Growing milkweed from seed is an easy way to make your garden a monarch landing zone.
Kindra Clineff
Growing milkweed from seed is one of the easiest ways to help declining monarch butterflies.
In December 2024, the U.S. “The use of pesticides and the loss of habitat and food sources are the main culprits.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
The hardest part may be deciding which key in to plant.
Use these expert tips on growing milkweed from seed to get started.
Bradford Grimmsells milkweed seeds for 74 types of Asclepias and hosts a podcast called “Grow Milkweed Plants.”
Find out what has grown in your region for hundreds of years and grow more of them.
Also, planting introduced species can actually disrupt the monarchs traditional feeding cycle and contribute to pests and disease.
Its a small act that makes a big difference for pollinators and monarchs.
Its striking long-blooming flowers also foster the spread of a parasitic, contagious pest of the butterflies.
Non-natives can also out-compete native plants that support the local ecosystem.
Site Milkweeds Carefully
Dont be put off because the plant’s name has weed in it.
Rampant species might be relegated toraised beds, for example.
Milkweed plants need a full sun location.
“A minimum of eight hours ofdirect sunlightin the summer is ideal,” says Grimm.
In fact, planting the seeds too deeply is the mostcommon reason the seeds don’t grow.”
Then plant as above into a prepared seedbed.
Because their roots aresensitive to transplant shock, planting milkweed seeds directly outside or using biodegradable pots works best.
Be Careful with Sap
Milkweeds get their name from the white sap the stalks exude when cut.
Blackledge S. The Monarch Butterfly and the Endangered Species Act.
Environment America Research & Policy Center.
December 13, 2024. https://environmentamerica.org/center/articles/the-monarch-butterfly-and-the-endangered-species-act/.
Spreading milkweed, not myths | u. S. Fish & wildlife service.
