Nectar Plants

How can I fund my monarch project? Where can I find free or low-cost milkweeds and nectar plants?

If you are looking to enhance an existing site with native milkweeds and nectar plants or to establish a new site from scratch, here are a few tips to consider when looking for funding:

• Monarch Watch has two opportunities to apply for free milkweed plugs for large-scale restoration projects and for schools and non-profits.

• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) operates a Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund for large projects, and they typically have an annual request for proposals.

• For small-scale garden habitats, the primary funding opportunities are through the state or local community. Check out our list of garden grants and search online for "garden grant" opportunities and find one that applies to your area or planting objectives.

• Connect with groups like Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Pheasants Forever, Wild Ones chapters, or a local garden club or rotary club. These groups may be able to provide funding, expertise, or materials such as local seeds or plants transplanted from existing gardens.

• Community-scale or public projects may be able to work with local native plant producers to provide seeds or plants at low or no-cost.

• Check with friends and neighbors to see if anyone has seeds from native milkweeds or other wildflowers that they have collected and would be willing to share.

• Also keep in mind that restoring habitat for monarchs has many co-benefits. Leverage other funding opportunities that prioritize migratory bird habitat, water quality, or another conservation initiative. If you recognize and make connections to multiple species and environmental benefits, you will broaden your opportunities to support a habitat restoration project, even if your primary goal is monarch conservation. Search to find conservation-minded funding opportunities through trusts, foundations, or other entities.

• Reach out to MJV’s free Pollinator Habitat Help Desk for additional ideas and guidance!

Is there any value to planting just milkweed or just nectar sources, or do I need to have a mix of both to make a beneficial habitat?

The best habitat for monarchs contains a variety of native milkweed as well as nectar plants. Milkweeds are the only plants that monarch larvae can eat, so they are essential for monarchs to successfully reproduce. Adult monarchs drink nectar from a variety of flowers, including milkweed, throughout the breeding and migratory seasons. Nectar sources are especially important during the fall migration, when adults are storing energy to survive the winter at their overwintering locations. All habitat restoration efforts should plan for both milkweeds and nectar sources, and they should include plants that bloom throughout the growing season. Having a combination of milkweed and other flowering plants helps ensure that adult monarchs will have a food source even when the milkweed plants are not in bloom. To find out what nectar and milkweed plants to buy, visit Xerces Society’s Nectar Guides and our Plant Milkweed for Monarchs handout.

What host plants can I plant to bring other butterflies to my garden?

Just as monarchs need milkweed, other Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) species require host plants for development. Some are specialists, meaning that they require a particular type of plant, but others can eat a variety of different plants. Depending on the region that you live in, you can attract different kinds of butterflies by growing the plants that their larvae need to develop, in addition to nectar sources that the adults use. Check out the North American Butterfly Association's Butterfly Garden and Habitat webpage for more information and regional butterfly gardening guides for more ideas about what plants to use in your area.

What should I do if I can't find an appropriate source of local native milkweeds or nectar resources that are recommended for monarchs?

This reason for this problem comes back to the principles of supply and demand. The commercial availability of native milkweeds and nectar sources is driven by the demand for those resources and a response in the supply chain will not always be immediate. Producing native plant materials is a long-term process and can sometimes be a risky investment for plant producers if they aren't sure about the long-term demand for those plants/seeds. It is important that we continue to drive increasing demand for these native, locally sourced plant materials to increase their availability over time and hopefully to drive down the cost as well. Since supply is often limited for native milkweeds and nectar sources, get your orders/requests in early. If vendors sell out during the spring, they may begin taking pre-orders for the following fall or spring.

If you haven't already done so, make sure that your site is ready for planting. There are different methods for site preparation, such as solarization, you can use to ensure the area is as weed free as possible to increase the success of the native plants you are trying to establish. Even if native milkweeds are not available when you are ready to plant, establish a high-diversity mix with other native forbs and grasses. These habitats will still be beneficial to monarchs and other pollinators, and you can plan ahead to augment the habitat in years following with milkweed plants/plugs. Another option would be to use annuals or some sort of cover crop on the habitat area during that season. This could prevent weedy species or invasives from taking over a site that you have prepared for planting and will allow time for you to find an appropriate source of seeds or plants for the habitat. Depending on what is planted, it may also provide some floral resources for pollinators.

How do I choose which species to plant for monarchs and where can I find local sources?

Native milkweeds and nectar plants are essential for monarchs. Monarchs need milkweed for egg laying and larval development and need nectar resources to support adult butterflies during breeding and migration. Both should be included in any monarch habitat. We recommend planting native, locally sourced species that are well-adapted for your region and more likely to thrive in your area's conditions. You can find information about how to choose which milkweed and nectar resources are right for you from our www.plantmilkweed.org website. This website also provides guidance on locating appropriate seed and plant materials near you, and considerations for different types of restoration or enhancement projects, like gardens or larger natural areas.

Which flowers do monarchs use for nectar?

Adult monarchs nectar from a variety of blooming plants. Most importantly, make sure that there is nectar available throughout the growing season by providing a highly diverse foraging area. Some species are favored over others, depending on your region. The Xerces Society has regional monarch nectar plant guides, which highlight plants that monarchs have been documented nectaring on. Lists of recommended nectar plants for pollinators in general by region can be found at The Xerces Society and the Pollinator Partnership.