Monarchs-And-Milkweed.com
(Rose Franklin's Perennial & Butterfly Farm)

Milkweed Plants for Monarchs,
and Host Plants for other butterfly species also.

Please scroll down and read 'Which Milkweed for the Monarchs?'

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During the shipping season (May thru October), our Facebook fans will receive notification of special promotions being offered on our web site. They will also be periodically informed about which milkweed plants are especially nice at that particular time (making these plants a better buy at that particular time).

   Milkweed is the host plant (caterpillar food) for Monarch butterflies. When it's blooming, it is also utilized as a nectar source by many butterfly species, bees, hummingbirds, and more. Here we offer numerous species of milkweed plants that are great for the butterfly garden..
  Among the milkweed plants we offer are Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), Hairy Balls Milkweed (Asclepias physocarpa), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriacea), Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa), and Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Only occasionally will all of these milkweed species be offered at the same time. Some might only be offered for a month or so during the entire summer.
   To learn more about the Monarch's plight to survive and multiply, please visit our 'Save the Monarch' page. Also  please read "Which Milkweed for the Monarchs?" near the bottom of this page.
   From time to time we will also offer host plants for butterflies other than monarchs. You will find these plants on this page, under the milkweed listings. These plants will be offered sporadically throughout the summer. Most will not be offered all summer long.

We ship milkweed plants from May through October, but only to the states listed below.  
We ship USPS Priority Mail. Once you place an order, please watch your email closely for updates on order status.
   We ARE able to ship plants to the following states within the USA:  Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. State and Federal regulations prohibit us from shipping to other destinations. If you do not live in one of the states we are permitted to ship to, please do not order. We will not ship your order and will charge you a $2.00 service charge to cancel your order and refund your payment.
For an explanation of why we can't ship to other states, please visit the 'FAQ' page of the web site.

Live within driving distance of central Pennsylvania?
If so, you might want to attend our Open House on

~  Saturday, May 18  ~  Saturday, May, 25  ~  Saturday, June 15  ~  Saturday, June 22  ~

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Please visit the 'Home' page of our web site for more information.

Milkweed Plants available for 2024 shipping:

Most of our Milkweed Plants are shipped in 3" pots or nursery liners.

We ship USPS First Class or Priority Mail. Shipping charges are shown near the bottom of the 'home' page of the web site.
Please be sure the address that comes thru on your order form is the address used by the U.S. Postal Service.
Once you place an order, please watch your email closely for updates on order status.
Do not place an order unless you live in one of the states we are permitted to ship plants to (list above).

Tropical Milkweed  (also known as Bloodflower and/or Mexican Milkweed)
(Asclepias curassavica)

Native in Mexico and the northern half of South America, Tropical Milkweed grows 30"-36" high and produces clusters of bright yellow or yellow-orange bi-colored flowers (sorry, no choice of flower color). Highly utilized by Monarch butterflies for egg-laying. Used as a nectar source by many other butterfly species and also by hummingbirds. Plant in full sun and treat as an annual. Save the seeds this fall and start them yourself next year (this milkweed is easy to grow from seed). Shipped in 3" pots. The plants are small. Deer resistant.

Annual.       6 plants for $25.00

Our Tropical Milkweed will not likely be ready for shipping until late May. If you order includes this plant, the entire order will be held until the Tropical Milkweed is ready for shipping.
         
***
Note: If you are going to use these plants to raise monarch caterpillars, I suggest you keep the plants in  pots, not plant them in the garden. See more about this on the 'Monarch Larvae' page.

 

Hairy Balls Milkweed  (also known as Swan Plant, Balloon Plant, Devil's Balls, and Family Jewels)
(Asclepias physocarpa and/or Gomphocarpus physocarpus)

Native to southeast Africa, Hairy Balls Milkweed grows 48"-60" high and produces clusters of tiny white star-shaped flowers August thru September. Balloon-like seed pods appear in September and October. Utilized by Monarch butterflies for egg-laying and used as a nectar source by several other butterfly species (and also by hummingbirds). Plant in full sun and treat as an annual. Save the seeds this fall and start them yourself next year (this milkweed is easy to grow from seed). Shipped in 3" pots. Deer resistant.

Annual.      5 plants for $25.00

Our Hairy Balls Milkweed will not likely be ready for shipping until late May. If you order includes this plant, the entire order will be held until the Hairy Balls Milkweed is ready for shipping.

 

U.S. Native Milkweed:

 Swamp Milkweed, pink flowering 
(
Asclepias incarnata)

Clusters of small pink flowers on plants which grow 36"-42" high. Swamp Milkweed  is a U.S. native that usually grows in moist areas (but it does not require a moist location in the garden). Usually blooming June thru July, this plant serves as a  nectar source for several butterfly species and as a host plant for Monarchs. Deer resistant.


Perennial
, zones 3-8.    
    $8.00 each

 

Swamp Milkweed, white flowering
(Asclepias incarnata 'Ice Ballet')

Clusters of small white flowers on plants which grow 32"-40" high. Usually blooms late June through July. 'Ice Ballet' Swamp Milkweed is a choice nectar plant for numerous butterfly species (including the red admiral shown here). It is also a top choice for monarch egg-laying! Deer resistant.


Perennial,  zones 3-8.       $8.00 each

 

Butterfly Weed   (Asclepias tuberosa)

Clusters of bright orange flowers adorn this plant from late June through July. Usually growing 18"-24" high, Butterfly Weed attracts numerous butterfly species for nectaring and it is sometimes utilized as a host plant for Monarch butterflies. Known also as Pleurisy Root, Butterfly Weed must be planted in a soil that provides excellent drainage, especially in winter. A US native, Butterfly Weed is drought-tolerant and deer resistant.


Perennial
, zones 3-8.          $8.00 each          Might be available late May or early June.

 

Host Plants for Other Butterfly Species:

caterpillar host plants; rue; Ruta graveolens Rue  (Ruta graveolens)

Rue is a beautiful garden plant, with lacy blue-green leaves and many small but showy bright yellow flowers from June through August. Known as herb o' grace, because its branches were once used by Catholic priests to sprinkle holy water. Rue grows 30"-36" high. Deer resistant.
Note: Some people are allergic to Rue, causing small water blisters or rash to break out on skin.

It is utilized as a host plant by Black Swallowtail (photo below) and Giant Swallowtail butterflies.

We CAN ship plants to the following states within the USA:  Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
State and Federal regulations prohibit us from shipping to other destinations. If you do not live in one of the states we are permitted to ship to, please do not order. We will not ship your order and will charge you a $1.00 service charge to cancel your order and refund your payment.


Perennial, zones 4-9.       $8.00 each  (3" pot)  

 

 

 

Giant Swallowtail

 'Silver Brocade' Artemisia  (host plant for American Lady caterpillars)
(Artemisia stellariana 'Silver Brocade')


Looks very similar to annual dusty miller! Grows 10"-15" high and about 24" wide in one season. Utilized as a host plant by American Ladies. Deer resistant and drought tolerant. Must have excellent drainage to survive the winter.

To raise 5 American Lady caterpillars, you should order 2 or 3 of these plants.

We CAN ship plants to the following states within the USA:  Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. State and Federal regulations prohibit us from shipping to other destinations. If you do not live in one of the states we are permitted to ship to, please do not order. We will not ship your order and will charge you a $1.00 service charge to cancel your order and refund your payment.

Perennial
, zones 6-8.       $7.00 each 

 

 


American Lady

Bronze Fennel   (Foeniculum vulgare)     

Bronze Fennel is an aromatic herb (smells like black licorice) with soft, wispy, fern-like foliage. It grows 48"-60" high and is strikingly beautiful, pretty enough to use in the back of a flower garden. As an herb, it is used in breads, sauces, dips, spreads, and more. What a beautiful plant this is, fit for a flower garden---and it's a perennial!

Bronze Fennel is utilized as a host plant by Black Swallowtail (pictured right) butterflies.

Perennial, zones 4-9.           $8.00 each  (shipped in 3" pot)

Should be ready for shipping between mid May and mid June. Please check back then.

 

 

 

Black Swallowtail

False Indigo
(Baptisia australis)

False Indigo grows 36" - 40" high and produces blue sweet pea-like blossoms. Its flower spikes rise above blue-green foliage on gray stems. Usually blooming the month of June, it produces interesting seed pods after flowering. The foliage of this bold plant is beautiful and lush from spring thru late fall. A beautiful perennial that is hard to find.     Deer resistant. 


Host plant for the Orange Sulphur, the Clouded Sulphur (pictured right), and the Eastern Tailed Blue.
 

Perennial, zones 3-9.        $8.00 each 

 

 

Clouded Sulphur

Wild Senna
(Senna hebecarpa or Cassia hebecarpa)

Wild Senna grows 48" 60" high and produces bright yellow flowers July thru August.  A U.S. native.

Utilized as a host plant by the Clouded Sulphur, Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange (pictured right), and Southern Dogface.

Perennial, zones 5-8.       $8.00 each

 

 

 

Sleepy Orange

Gas Plant
(Dictamnus albus rubra)

A favorite at our nursery (and a very hard to find plant), Gas Plant grows to about 36" high and produces beautiful pink or white flower spikes in late spring. The leaves and flowers have a fragrant lemon-like scent. This is a long-lived perennial which takes so little care. Sorry, no choice of flower color but 80% of ours are pink. The plants will likely not bloom until next year.  Deer resistant.

As discovered by Rose many years ago, a host plant for Giant Swallowtail butterflies.

Perennial
, zones 3-8.        $9.00 each    Our Gas Plants  are small, only 3" - 5" high.

 

 Might be available around late May. Please check back then. 

Giant Swallowtail

Parsley   (Petroselinum crispum)

Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, the same one grown for culinary use, is also a host plant for the Black Swallowtail. It grows 10"-18" high. 

Parsley is utilized as a host plant by Black Swallowtail (pictured right) butterflies.

Annual, zones 4-9.          $6.00 each  (shipped in 3" pot)

Should be ready for shipping between late May and mid June.

 

 

 

Black Swallowtail

Purple Passion Flower (vine)  (Passiflora incarnata)

Purple Passion Flower, also known as Passionvine and Maypops,  is native to PA, OH, IL, IN, MO, KS, and all states laying to the south of these. Growing to 10' - 20' long, Purple Passion Flower produces exotic-looking 3" lavender blooms June thru August. Its seed pods (known as Maypops) develop about 3 months after flowering occurs and are about the size of chicken eggs. Passion Flower will climb up fences, arbors, and walls.  Hardy in USDA Zones 6 - 9.

Host plant for the Variegated Fritillary (pictured right) and Gulf Fritillary.

Photo by Josh Hillman.
 

Perennial, zones 5-8.         $8.00 each 

 

 

 

Variegated Fritillary

PawPaw     (Asimina triloba)

PawPaw trees grow to a height of 25' - 30'. They prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil in partly shaded locations (but will usually thrive in sunny spots too). PawPaw produces fruit which, when ripe, tastes like a blend of banana, mango, and pineapple. 

Host plant for the beautiful long-tailed, black and white striped Zebra Swallowtail.

Perennial, zones 5-9.              $8.00 each  (Small seedling, 6" - 8" high)

 

Zebra Swallowtail

 Two ways to order: (1) Utilize our on-line shopping cart or  (2) print our online order form, fill it out, and then mail it to us, along with your check or money orderSome of the features of our online shopping cart fail to work correctly with some Internet Service Providers. If you have problems using our shopping cart, please print our order form, fill it out, and then mail it to us. Sorry for the inconvenience. 
We do not accept phone orders.
   Quantities are limited on some of our nursery stock. Plants will be reserved to fill orders in the sequence in which orders are received. Please order at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment. Please do not order plants which are not currently posted with a picture, plant description, and price.

Milkweed is essential for the existence of  Monarch butterflies. 
A Monarch butterfly is pictured at the top of this page. Adult Monarchs (and many other butterfly species) love nectar-rich milkweed as a food source, but there is a more important reason for the Monarch's close attachment to milkweed. Milkweed is the only plant material that Monarch caterpillars can eat. Remove Monarch caterpillars from milkweed and they will starve; or they will eat other plant material, sicken, and then die. The scientific name for milkweed is Asclepias (pronounced as-KLEE-pea-us). Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) is well known to most who reside in the eastern half of the U.S.. It grows along roadsides, in fields, and  in open meadows. Producing sweet smelling mauve-pink flowers  late June through July, common milkweed usually matures at about 48" high. Some people incorrectly assume common milkweed to be the only milkweed species which exists.  Actually, over 100 species of Asclepias grow in the USA, with over 200 different species growing worldwide.
   Common milkweed is not the only Asclepias species which can be utilized as a food source for the monarch caterpillar. In reality, any Asclepias serves the purpose, although a few select species do tend to be the female Monarch's favorite for egg-laying..
   Among the Asclepias species highly utilized by female monarchs for egg-laying are Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed, an annual), Hairy Balls Milkweed (Asclepias physocarpa, an annual), and Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed, an perennial).


Want to learn more about milkweed plants?  
If so, please read our Introduction To Milkweed.

In the past few years, I (Rose Franklin) have read numerous articles claiming that too many gardeners are planting the wrong species of milkweed. In planting Tropical Milkweed, the authors of these articles contend, well-intentioned gardeners are actually harming the Monarch (killing the monarchs, some go so far to proclaim). Tired of hearing this nonsense, I wrote the following article in rebuttal.

Which Milkweed for the Monarchs?

                                                                                                by Rose Franklin,  January 19, 2015

 

Americans are worried about the current status of the Monarch butterfly population, and they should be. Monarch numbers have dramatically declined in the past ten years or so. Some entomologists even wonder if the spectacular annual migration to and from Mexico might one day cease to exist. The over-wintering population in Mexico last winter, 2013-2014, was the smallest ever recorded, about 10% of the 20-year average.

Monarch enthusiasts, knowing that Monarchs must have access to milkweed if the population is to increase, are opting to plant milkweed instead of petunias, impatiens, geraniums, and marigolds. But they are confused about which milkweed species they should plant. Some gardeners are told they should only plant the milkweed species that are native to their area while others hear that almost any milkweed, including those that grow in the tropic jungles of the world, like Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), are suitable hosts for the Monarch.

It was scientists who first began to oppose the planting of Tropical Milkweed. They claimed that because this milkweed species grows year around in some parts of the U.S, it might disrupt the Monarch’s migratory cues in autumn and facilitate in the creation of a large population that does not migrate but, instead, resides year around where Tropical Milkweed grows year around.  And there, where it is not killed off annually by autumn frosts (southern Florida and along the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico), Tropical Milkweed surely harbors pathogens and facilitates in the increased transmission of disease (especially Oe, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha). Researchers even know that there are, and have been for a number of years, a few small Monarch populations residing year around, and breeding year around, in isolated locations along the Gulf coast.

Migration likely serves several purposes in the well-being of Monarchs. It compels the Monarch to abandon habitat which might be contaminated with pathogens. The long-distance migration also serves to weed out the individuals that are weak and diseased, so that only the healthiest of the population is left to produce offspring the following year.  

Because migration is assuredly advantageous to the health of the Monarch population, I am not comfortable in knowing that even a tiny fragment of the Monarch population has become non-migratory and now breeds year around in a few locations along the southern coast of the U.S. In those areas where Tropical Milkweed does not die in winter, I urge people to refrain from planting it. If it is already planted, I suggest the Tropical Milkweed plants be cut to the ground in autumn and all the debris discarded, thus eliminating the possibility of Monarchs reproducing year around on foliage which might be contaminated with disease. If those residents along the Gulf coast are unwilling or unable to cut their plants to the ground every fall, I advise them to spray their Tropical Milkweed with Roundup, repeatedly until it is completely gone. I don’t generally advocate the use of Roundup, but in this case, I will tolerate its use so that the Monarch will be able to multiply in healthy, disease-free environments.

OK. I agree that in the 2% of the nation where Tropical Milkweed grows year around, it could, and most likely does, harbor and spread disease among the small Monarch population that has chosen to reside and breed there year around. But,  as stated above, this could be prevented if people would cut their Tropical Milkweed plants to the ground every fall. In the other 97% of the U.S. though, I think Tropical Milkweed might well be of benefit to the Monarch, especially at this point in time, when Monarch numbers are swiftly dwindling (though, in my opinion, maybe not any faster than other butterfly species are dwindling in number).  

I do not believe that Monarchs migrating from eastern Canada or the northeastern states of the U.S to Mexico could be persuaded to stay in Pennsylvania or Virginia because they encounter a large stand of Tropical Milkweed growing in a garden. I simply do not believe that. Eastern Monarchs are genetically programmed to make the annual migration to the over-wintering sites in the high-altitude oyamel fir forests in the trans-volcanic mountains of central Mexico. Northeastern Monarchs emerging from pupae between late August and mid-September are in reproductive diapause and thus, not even capable of mating and laying eggs. Probably in response to shorter day length, cooler autumn temperatures, and/or the orientation of the sun, they emerge from their pupae, feed on nectar to store sugar in their bodies, and then automatically begin their long journey south.

I have been an avid butterfly gardener for over twenty years, and I have grown many species of milkweed in my gardens in central Pennsylvania. My advice, at this particular point in time, is to plant whatever milkweed species will aid the Monarch in its quest to survive and multiply.  

Several years ago, I might have agreed with those who advocate the planting of natives only. Today though, with the Monarch numbers at an all-time low, I advocate that we plant whichever milkweed species Monarchs will readily lay eggs on, and/or whatever milkweed species Monarch caterpillars will readily feed on.

Having had many milkweed species our my yard over the past two decades, my husband and I have seen that, consistently from one year to the next, female Monarchs lay more eggs on Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) than they do on any other milkweed species. Annually, we find 300 or more Monarch caterpillars on the hundreds of milkweed plants growing on our property. At least 70% of those are found feeding on the Tropical Milkweed, not the Pennsylvania native Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), or Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), also known as Bloodflower, grows 36” to 48” high, generally blooms from mid-July through frost, and prefers full sun. It is native to tropical South America, Mexico, Central America, and a few torrid islands in the Caribbean and thus, must be treated as an annual in most of the U.S. Tropical Milkweed produces clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers which might be yellow, yellow/orange, or red/orange bi-colors.

I have to assume that female Monarchs know what they are doing in choosing Tropical Milkweed for the laying of their eggs. If they intrinsically choose to lay eggs on Tropical Milkweed, even when a number of native species are available to them, they must have innate reasoning for doing so. Monarchs are genetically programmed to halt reproduction in fall, inherently wired to make the annual migration to and from Mexico, and I think, innately programmed to know which milkweed species is best suited for their offspring to consume. Maybe Tropical Milkweed is more nutritious than native milkweeds, maybe it has a higher amount of cardenolides in it, which, once consumed by the caterpillars, serve to make both the caterpillars and the adult butterflies toxic to birds.

Andy, my husband, and I offer a huge buffet of milkweeds to the Monarchs that visit our property during the summer months. Having a choice of depositing eggs on the hundreds of Common Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, and Butterfly Weed which grow in our yard, along with other milkweeds too, they overwhelming choose Tropical Milkweed. I don’t know why they choose it, and I don’t care why. I only know that they do.

Aside from advocating the planting of Tropical Milkweed because female Monarchs prefer it for egg-laying, I promote it for another reason also. Tropical Milkweed is highly utilized as a nectar source by fall-migrating Monarchs. In October, when Monarchs are still migrating through Pennsylvania and most flowering plants are far past their prime, Tropical Milkweed is generally still green and, apparently, still producing sweet-flavored nectar. On warm, sunny October days, from late morning through mid-afternoon, our Tropical Milkweed patches are adorned by the flutter of dozens of migrating Monarchs. They stop by, nectar for just a while, and then continue on their way.

Monarchs are in crisis--and so long as they are, and unless someone convinces me that Tropical Milkweed is causing peril to the Monarch (other than in that 2% of the country where it does not freeze out over the winter), I will continue to promote the planting of Tropical Milkweed. I love the Monarch, and my wish is that its population rebounds to the number recorded in Mexico during the winter of 1996-1997, the year the Monarch count was the highest ever recorded.

Data for 1994-2003 collected by personnel of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico. Data for 2003-2013 collected by World Wildlife Fund Mexico in coordination with the Dicectorate of the MBBR.

Above, a Monarch butterfly nectars on Butterfly Bush.

Rose Franklin's Perennials
107 Butterfly Lane      Spring Mills, PA  16875

(814) 422-8968        Email:  MilkweedLady@aol.com

During our busy shipping season (April 15 thru September 30), please email, don't call.

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