Spring is an extremely important time for monarch butterflies. The overwintering populations will soon head north to lay the first monarch eggs of the season. These butterflies need new milkweed to feed monarch caterpillars, and nectar flowers to inspire weary females to lay the groundwork (eggs) for future generations.

Many butterfly gardeners prefer summer plants that are in their prime during the height of monarch season. But to ensure there is a “height” to the season, it’s important to provide the returning ‘migration generation’ the breakfast it needs for a productive season.

Here are 5 spring butterfly plants to consider for your garden if you want to help returning monarch butterflies get off to a flying start:

1. Spider Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)- This early milkweed variety is a shorter species that would make a great garden border for either taller milkweeds plants or nectar flowers.

• Perennial most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9
• Essential milkweed for monarch butterfies returning north from Mexico
• Height 1 to 2.5 feet
• Bloom time May- July
• Purple and green blooms also attract other pollinators like the Hairstreak above
• Plant in full sun – drought tolerant
• Find Asclepias viridis seeds and plants by clicking here

More Photos and Info about Spider Milkweed Here

2. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)- A low maintenance plant with fragrant purple flowers that can also be used to impart a more ‘subtle’ onion flavor into your culinary creations.

• Perennial recommended in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9
• Colder zones can grow annually
• Height 1 to 2 feet
• Container garden option
• allium plants have been shown to repel aphids
• Bloom time April-June
• Showy purple blooms on green stalks
• Plant in full sun
• Find Spring Chives for Butterflies Here

3. Siberian Wallflower (Erysimum x marshallii)- A winning combination of brilliant orange flowers with an intoxicating aroma that attracts monarchs, other butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Click the play button to watch a feeding monarch butterfly:

• Biennial most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-9
• Colder zones might try starting seeds indoors or plant annually
• Height 1.5 to 2 feet
• Good option for container gardening
• Bloom time March-May
• Vibrant orange flowers
• Full sun to partial shade
• Buy Siberian Wallflowers for Spring Butterfly Plants

4. May Night Salvia (Salvia x superba ‘Mainacht’)- Striking blue and purple spikes make this hybrid of S.nemorosa and S. sylvestris a winner with butterflies and gardeners alike. The parent varieties are also excellent butterfly attractors!

• Perennial most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 3-9
• Perennial plant of the year in 1997
• Height 1.5 to 3 foot spikes
• Excellent container garden idea
• Bloom time March-May (reblooms w/deadheading)
• Deep blue and purple blooms
• Plant in full sun
• Find ‘May Night’ Salvia here

5. Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)- One of the earliest sprouting milkweed varieties, this is a preferred spring milkweed because of its large, thick leaves that can sustain many monarch caterpillars.

• Perennial most common in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9
• Many other butterflies and bees use this as a nectar source
• Height 4-6 feet – we have some that eclipse 7!
• Bloom time June-August
• Fragrant pink and white flowers
• Plant in full sun – drought resistant
• Can be invasive with underground rhizomes – tips to control common
• Find Reliable Asclepias Syriaca for spring monarchs

These, of course, aren’t the only  options that can sustain early monarch generations, but they are some of the most reliable plants in my experience. They are also commonly reported to be ‘spring monarch magnets’ by other butterfly gardeners.

See More Butterfly Plant Ideas for all seasons

She made broken look beautiful,
and strong look invincible.
She walked with the Universe on her shoulders,
and made it look like a pair of wings.

how to tell the difference between male and female monarchs? <<<

Container gardening ideas for your monarch butterfly garden consist of both nectar flowers and milkweed plants. Even better, are the butterfly plants that serve both purposes.

But why would you want to grow milkweed in containers?

1. Portability

Put pots on raised beds, move them around in the garden, or bring milkweed containers to a patio for easier viewing of butterflies and caterpillars.

2. Raising Monarchs

When you raise monarchs on a potted milkweed plant, you don’t have to constantly switch out their milkweed supply. However, make sure if a pot has been sitting outside that you thoroughly check the leaves and container for hungry predators!

Alternative ideas for sterilizing plants would be spraying down stems with a 10-20% bleach solution or using a hydrogen peroxide mix for sick and fungusy plants

3. Grow Above your Hardiness Zone

If you grow non-native milkweed varieties, you can buy new seeds/plants annually or you can overwinter in containers. This gives you larger plants to start the season and also saves time and money getting new plants started.

4. Create New Plants with Stem Cuttings from your Container Plants

This works best with Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed) but milkweed growers have also reported success rooting butterfly weed, swan milkweed, and the calotropis milkweed varieties.

Here are SEVEN milkweed container gardening ideas for your butterfly garden:

Asclepias Incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)

This is probably the best option if you want to stick with natives varieties. Each fall, leave a couple inconveniently-seeded first year swamp plants in your garden and mark them.

Incarnata doesn’t have long taproots like Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) or Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed), so it’s easy to dig up and replant. It’s also a favorite host plant for eggs and nectar flower for monarchs, bees, pollinators, and other beneficial insects.

The advantage to using second year perennial plants compared to milkweed seeds or first year milkweed seedlings? Several stalks will emerge and your container will have a long bloom period in summer.

More Swamp Milkweed Info, Plants and Seeds ⬅️

Asclepias Curassavica (Tropical Milkweed)

Asclepias curassavica blooms all season long so it works great in containers. It also grows shorter than swamp milkweed so a potted plant will fit better in a large caterpillar cage, should you decide to raise monarchs.

In our northern garden, we typically use potted tropical milkweed once to raise monarchs to release for the fall migration. Make sure to take the disinfecting precautions listed above if you reuse potted plants in the same season…this goes for any milkweed variety (including native plants) you are reusing.

More Tropical Milkweed Info, Plants and Seeds ⬅️

Asclepias Perennis (Aquatic Milkweed)

This is an exciting native option for containers because it blooms repeatedly with pretty white flowers similar to swamp milkweed. Perennis leaves also stays viable for monarch caterpillars throughout the season. Suggested for USDA hardiness zones 6-9. Grow Annually or overwinter in cooler regions

More Aquatic Milkweed Plants, Seeds, and Info ⬅️

Asclepias Tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)

This widely used native milkweed has more compact growth, although it does have underground rhizomes, so I would suggest using a 10″ pot or larger, depending on the size of your plant.

More Butterfly Weed Info, Plants and Seeds ⬅️

Calotropis Gigantea (Giant Milkweed)

This may be the most unexpectedly gorgeous container in our milkweed growing experience in our Minnesota butterfly garden. We purchased one rooted cutting is this potted perfection is what evolved by mid-summer!

More Giant Milkweed Photos and Info ⬅️

Oxypetalum Caeruleum (Tweedia Milkweed)

This is the only milkweed with true blue flowers and a beautiful container option. It’s a climbing vine, and I’ll be sure to report our experience growing it in year 2. I would not recommend depending on this variety as a host plant, although it is a viable milkweed option for monarch caterpillars.

More Tweedia Photos, info, Plants, and Seeds ⬅️

Cynanchum Laeve (Honeyvine Milkweed)

This native climbing butterfly plant can be an aggressive spreader, so why not try it in a container so you can reap all of the milky benefits without the hassle of runaway rhizomes?

Get More Honeyvine Info, Seeds, and Plants ⬅️

Gomphocarpus Physocarpus (Giant Swan Plant)

This non-native annual does not spread aggressively in my northern growing experience. We have also grown its closest milkweed relative, Gomphocarpus fruticosus (swan milkweed), and that variety does seem to have more aggressive tap roots…go figure!

More Giant Swan Plant Info and Seeds ⬅️ (click the link to see the peculiar pods of giant swan plant)

Best Soil for Milkweed Containers?

Keep in mind there are over 30 varieties of milkweed you could plant, so research to see if a particular milkweed variety has special soil requirements.

For the most part, using an all purpose soil mix works well for most milkweed species. I use a slow release fertilizer to consistently feed plants extra nutrients, or you can also use a water soluble fertilizer. This does not hurt the munching monarch caterpillars.

Best Containers for Milkweed?

You can try growing any milkweed variety in pots as long as the container is large enough to accommodate the rhizomes/ tap root. Be sure you milkweed containers have drainage holes to prevent overwatering and root rot.

Think about how long you will be growing milkweed in a particular container…will it be for just one season, or the next several?

For our annual milkweed containers, we use 10 or 12 inch pots. Use larger containers if you’re planting multiple plants.

Consider a 14″ container for perennial containers…replant in a larger pot when the need arises.

Milkweed Container Tip for Perennials- Select milkweed species that are hardy to at least one USDA hardiness zone below yours. Fence and mulch containers to keep plant roots from freezing, or move them to an protected from extreme cold like a sunny south side or garage.

Click Here to Choose Your Milkweed ⬅️

Large 24″ Portable Containers with Wheels ⬅️ (we use these for planting multiple milkweed plants or milkweed with companion plants)

Click Here for More Container Options ⬅️

Use large stones at the bottom of your milkweed containers to keep them from blowing over and to give your milkweed pots good drainage.

To keep milkweed leaves fresh, regular watering should occur when the soil starts to dry out. Timing will be dependent on container size and growing conditions.

Reminder: Milkweed sap is an eye irritant so use gloves when handling plants or (at least) wash hands thoroughly after.

Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of milkweed container gardening ideas, but these are some of the options gardeners we (and other gardeners) have reported the most success with…happy gardening!

If you have other tips and tricks for how to grow milkweed in containers, please comment below

As magnificent monarchs migrate north across the US toward Canada, butterfly excitement is taking hold of gardeners across North America. These best mother’s day gift ideas will multiply that excitement tenfold for butterfly enthusiasts that anxiously await their return.

If your mother is a fan of butterflies, butterfly gardening, and/or raising butterflies these mother’s day gift ideas will potentially bring her joy for years to come…

~ 9 unique Mother’s Day Gifts for Gardeners ~

Mother’s Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 1- Monarch Butterfly Garden Flags

Choose from an assortment of bright, colorful garden flags to add cheer to the butterfly garden, even on the darkest of days.

Why will this best mother’s day gifts idea be the perfect gardening gift for her?

• Beautiful butterfly designs add an artistic flair to the garden
• Garden Flags can be switched out during the season to celebrate the change of seasons
• They’re like greeting cards to every garden visitor
• If the butterfly markings are life-like, don’t be surprise to see a visitors give the flag a close inspection
• If mom doesn’t have an existing garden flag, make sure to get her a flag stand too
• Most flags are available with two day amazon prime shipping

Find a Butterfly Flag for Mom Here

Buy a Butterfly Garden Flag for Mom on Etsy

Find a Garden Flag Stand here

Mothers Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 2– Monarch Butterfly Mama Kit

A unique gift idea for a nature loving mom that wants to see her babies grow up into something amazing…in just 30 days! Give mom the gift of knowledge and all the tools she needs to raise happy, healthy, monarch butterflies.

Why will this mother’s day gift idea be a cherished gardening gift for her?

• Nurture and protect monarch butterflies inside for release back to nature
• Increase the monarchs survival rate from under 5% to over 90% by raising indoors
• Gives gardening moms more opportunity to see butterflies in their garden
• A fun activity for mom or the entire family
• Check out recommend supplies by clicking the link below:

Supplies Suggestions for Raising Monarch Butterflies ⬅️

Mother’s Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 3- Monarch Butterfly Earrings

Beautiful little butterflies accent her outfit, and make great conversation starters…

Why is this a perfect gift for mother’s day?

• Choose Monarchs or an assortment of colorful butterflies
• Sterling Silver French ear wire
• Lightweight
• 2-3 Day Shipping w/Amazon prime
• 5 star Customer Rated Reviews

Find Beautiful Monarch Butterfly Earrings on Etsy

Find Monarch Butterfly Earrings Here

Mothers Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 4– Mother of Monarchs Butterfly Life Cycle Shirt

A unique butterfly t-shirt design for monarch mamas who loving support monarchs by gardening or raising them through the life cycle from tiny egg to magnificent monarch…

Why is this a good mother’s day gift?

• High Quality Screen-Printed Shirts
• unique gardening gift for her w/ original design
• Choose from 6 styles of shirts
• Variety of Colors
• Sizes from XS to 3XL
• Lightweight
• Order by Monday, April 20th to insure delivery by Mother’s Day

Find Mom a M.O.M. Butterfly T-shirt Here

Buy Mom a Grow the Migration Gardening T-shirt Here

Buy Mom a Garden for Life T-shirt Here

Mother’s Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 5- Collapsible Utility Garden Wagon

This little red wagon makes the perfect garden assistant for mom, but also has many other uses…

Why is this a good mother’s day gift for a gardener?

• Folds to 8″ thick
• No assembly required
• Choose from Blue, Red, Camouflage, or Pink
• Rubber wheels won’t ever go flat
• Sturdy steel frame
• Multi-use utility wagon for park, beach, groceries, plant sales, pets, etc.
• 2 Mesh holders for drinks or small garden tools
• 2-3 Day Shipping w/Amazon prime
• 5 star Customer Rated Reviews

Find Mom a Utility Garden Wagon Here

Mothers Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 6- Binoculars for Butterflies

A perfect day in the butterfly garden is when you walk through and the butterflies accept you as part of the garden wildlife. However, sometimes they can be skittish and a little elusive. How can you overcome this problem so you can enjoy your garden butterflies without scaring them away? Why, with butterfly binoculars, of course!

Why will mom cherish this unique butterfly gift for gardeners?

• If mom has fading vision, this will allow her to enjoy the vibrant sights of butterflies from great distances or in depth at close range.
• Great idea for those with limited mobility. Binoculars allow mom to zoom in on the butterflies without taking a step
• Does mom like to sit on the patio while sipping a cool beverage? Butterfly binoculars let her relax without missing any butterfly action in the garden
• 5 star rated binoculars by actual butterfly enthusiasts that have used them
• Good for bird watching and focusing in on other garden wildlife too

Purchase Pentax Papilio III (Butterfly) Binoculars Here ⬅️

Mother’s Gift Idea for Gardeners 7- Milkweed Plants and Butterfly Flowers

This is the perfect time for giving the gift of butterfly plants. It’s too late to gift milkweed seeds unless your mother is ok with her plants being too small to support monarch life until next season. Keep in mind, a milkweed patch should have a 6 plant minimum to support monarch life. Otherwise, those hungry caterpillars will exhaust mom’s milkweed supply faster than you can say milkweed emergency!

Why will mom like this butterfly gift for gardeners?

• Milkweed Plants and plugs will give you monarch-ready plants this season
• Milkweed seeds are harder to start, so save poor mom some extra work up front
• Milkweed can be difficult to find at local nurseries
• A gift for good– the monarch butterfly population needs our help so this gift is also eco-friendly
• Milkweed will come back every year to greet your mother, and a new generation of monarchs, bees, hummingbirds, and beneficial pollinators!
• Swamp Milkweed and Tropical Milkweed are two milkweed options that are easier to find and favored by monarchs and plant lover mothers
• Need more plant recommendations? check out the links below:

Milkweed QUICKSTART Guide: Grow Milkweed Fast for Monarchs eBook ⬅️ (PDF Download)

ANNUALS Quickstart Guide: Grow Annuals Fast for Monarchs eBook ⬅️ (PDF Download)

Find Milkweed Plants Here

Find Nectar Flowers Here

Buy Gift Certificates from Joyful Butterfly Nursery (1 mother’s day design option)

Inspirational Mothers Day Gift Idea 8 for Butterfly Lovers – Monarch Chrysalis Pendants

Handmade glass blown replicas of the amazing monarch chrysalis. Monarch Transformation Pendants are a gift of inspiration that reminds the recipient that positive change is always possible, even in impossible situations.

Why will mom cherish this nature-inspired unique butterfly jewelry?

• Hand made to look as real as possible
• Chose From New Beginnings and Total Rebirth Chrysalis Pendants
• Glass artist Jude Rose has been making these for almost 20 years, and has improved her design process over the years
• Transformation pendants come with a 14k yellow gold-filled 20″ double rope chain and a lovely gift box
• The perfect accent piece for mom’s summer wardrobe
• Raving reviews by Jude’s satisfied customers…including my mom!
• Green Chrysalides also available as EARRINGS

Choose your chrysalis gift by clicking here

Find more Monarch Butterfly Necklaces ⬅️

Mother’s Day Gift Idea for Gardeners 9– Garden Shoes

Every gardening mother needs a good pair of gardening shoes and these are them 😉

Why will mom like these garden shoes for her?

• Waterproof for rain or garden use
• Easy to slip on/off
• Eco-friendly- Made in the USA with 100% recyclable material
• Comfort insoles for aching feet
• Find the perfect style and size to fit your mom
• Quality construction and long lasting

Find Rain and Garden Shoes for Mom

I hope at least one of these unique mother’s day gift ideas for her will be a great fit for your mom, and make her heart flutter with joy.

Whether you planted seeds last fall, started seeds and cuttings over winter, or delayed all your milkweed plans until now, most of us will  be spring planting some milkweed.

Spring is the time to execute your final (initial) milkweed plan for the season. Your milkweed patch(es) may need revising during the season, but starting with a good plan now should keep alterations to a minimum.

7 Spring Planting Tips for Magnificent Milkweed

Spring Planting Milkweed Seeds Indoors

1. Introduce Milkweed to Adoring Fans…with Pitchforks?

If you’ve started seeds indoors, remember to use an oscillating clip fan (or a floor fan) to promote stronger, straighter stems. Leggy seedlings won’t often survive planting outdoors, or grow up the way you would like.

We recently staked Asclepias erosa seedlings with a simple method that doesn’t require tying them to anything. We used this simple staking technique in addition to the fan:

You can break off fork handles to adjust the height for smaller seedlings.

Two species that are known to start leaning are Showy Milkweed and the peculiar-podded Balloon Plant Milkweed , but you  can use these techniques on other milkweed varieties or any plant species that is having a hard time staying vertically motivated…

2. A Soilless Start?

Did you forget cold stratification in your refrigerator? Milkweed seeds can be started directly in water with no cold treatment, although germination rate might be less for some species:

• Put milkweed seeds in a bowl of water
• Place the bowl inside a plastic baggie OR
• just place seeds in a container
• Set everything together on top of a heated seed mat
• When the seeds germinate plant the root side in soil with the attached brown seed cover sticking out of the dirt.
• If it’s too early to plant, stick them in a spring sowing container

Spring Planting Milkweed Seeds Outdoors

3. Water First

Wet the soil before planting your seeds so they won’t be instantly washed away to a location of your unchoosing or spring sow milkweed seeds

For returning perennials, water the soil and emerging shoots with a hydrogen peroxide mix (4 parts water to 1 part peroxide) to kill fungus that could negatively impact plant growth. We try to do this for any garden plant we’ve had past fungus issues with and all milkweed:

Click Here to Buy Hydrogen Peroxide for your Garden

4. Protect Your Weed

Fence off your seedlings if there is a good chance of trampling by overzealous pets or small children. You’ll be surprised to find that some garden pests (like rabbits) might even give your milkweed a nibble between mouthfuls of their favorite fresh veggies.

Check out my fall planting guide that can also be used for spring planting milkweed seeds:

10 Easy steps for Fall Planting Milkweed

Spring Planting Milkweed Cuttings

 
5. Root Cuttings in Water for at least One Month

Cuttings are easiest to take from non-native tropical milkweeds. Place them in distilled water for a month or longer. Cuttings are much sturdier than seedlings so they’re unlikely to be wiped out by stormy spring weather or a storming of the garden by unwelcome pests.

For more detailed instructions on growing milkweed from cuttings check out this post:

Grow Tropical Milkweed from Cuttings

Start Native Milkweed form Cuttings

6. Water Wisely

After planting,  water your cuttings every few days until they’re actively putting out new growth. Although most milkweed varieties are drought tolerant, this doesn’t apply to your stem cuttings and baby seedlings.

Spring Planting Milkweed Plants

7. Give Weed a Chance!

Are you sometimes too impatient waiting for milkweed plants to return in spring? Don’t give up on milkweed too early and dig up perfectly good plants! A good rule of green thumb is to put all questionable plant replacements at the end of your gardening to-do list.

While you’re focused on other spring garden preparation, some of the perennial plants you wrote off for dead might just surprise you…

8. Grow a Patch

Grow at least 3 plants together so your monarch butterflies and monarch caterpillars don’t run out of food. If you have lone plants growing around your yard, check them regularly and transfer monarch caterpillars to other milkweed, if necessary.

Most milkweed species require moderately acidic soil with optimal PH levels between 4.8 and 6.8. If you’re having problems growing milkweed, consider a PH testing kit to see if this is a problem.

9. Grow Milkweed that can THRIVE

Start with native milkweed varieties and perennials that can thrive in your region before experimenting with tender perennials and non-natives that have lower rates of survival. Some of the top natives in our northern region include:

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias Tuberosa (butterfly weed)

To research the best options for your region check out:

30 Milkweed Plants for North American Butterfly Gardens

Planting milkweed that thrives (in your region) insures there will always be enough nectar flowers to support pollinators and enough host plant leaves for eggs and munching monarch larvae.

If you’re overwhelmed by all the options and want to grow milkweed fast to support monarchs this season (from spring’s last frost through fall’s first frost) check out our milkweed eBook:

Milkweed Quickstart Guide for Monarch Butterflies ⬅️

10. Grow SEVERAL Patches

Grow patches in different areas of your yard and garden, and even try growing some in pots. Weather and wildlife are the ultimate wildcards in your milkweed’s performance. Within the same yard, these two wildcards can affect each patch differently.

A couple years back, a freak hail storm wiped out all the plants on the north side of our house, but left the south garden virtually untouched. Imagine if our entire milkweed supply had been planted on the north side…

If milkweed isn’t thriving in one area, spring or fall are the best times to transplant milkweed. But again, be sure to experiment in a couple microclimates of your garden to discover where plants will truly thrive.

Planting all your milkweed in one patch is like putting all your pastries in a cookie jar, and giving them to one binge-eating blue monster for safe keeping…

Starting milkweed seeds indoors requires more patience if you’re letting things progress on nature’s terms…but there’s a quicker path to butterfly garden success.

But first, if you’re completely lost, you probably missed the first post from this milkweed seed starting trilogy. Once you’re up to speed, continue reading below…

====================================================

My current seed starting system includes seed starting trays, clear tray domes,  5 oz. cups, seed starting soil, a heated seedling mat, shelving for the trays, and full spectrum grow lights.

Plant your Milkweed Seeds

• I prefer using 5 oz. translucent cups (as opposed to planting in seed tray inserts) so I don’t have to transplant before spring planting. The inserts are fine if you prefer them.
• Make 3 drainage holes in the bottom of each cup
• Fill the cups with seed starter soil inside of the tray
• Water each cup so the soil is saturated
• Place 2 seeds in each cup (space them so they both have room to grow)
• Cover them with more soil
• Spray the soil with a water bottle
• Place the dome lid over the tray
• Slide the the tray on to your heated seedling mat
• Remove the heated seed mat after your seeds have sprouted
• Place the seedlings under T5 grow lights or LED grow lights OR
• Place them by a sunny window- we place some in our 3-season porch with the dome lid on to retain more moisture and so the seedlings won’t freeze.

Growing ?: While your seedlings are indoors, an oscillating fan can be used to mimic an outdoor breeze to promote stronger, straighter stems.

Alternative Plant your Milkweed Seeds

If you use the seed starter trays, you could transplant the seedlings into a new winter sowing container. In Minnesota, I’ve kept ours in the 3-season porch (with lid secured!) until about St. Patty’s Day, then moved containers outside. On nights well-below freezing, they’re moved into the garage or house.

Once the threat of frost is over, remove the lid and let the seedlings grow until it’s time to transplant.

Why does heat matter?

Since the seeds germinate at around 75° F, northern germination outdoors might not occur until late June or July. This gets your annual milkweed plants off to a super slow start and then, before you know it, their fate is sealed by the end of the growing season…Winter is Coming.🥶

I foolishly believed that heated seedling mats were a “marketing ploy” in my early days of gardening. Once I broke down and bought one, I was simply amazed by the heat mat results. Not only did my seedlings sprout in record time, I also had my highest germination rate ever for tropical milkweed.

While spring sowing tropical seeds outside might be easier, what’s the point if these are the measly results:

This late-August tropical milkweed plant started from seed in a local butterfly garden. Even with the encouragement of soaking rains and sizzling summer sun, it never bloomed to share nectar with pollinators, grew ample leaves to feed hungry caterpillars, and we couldn’t harvest seeds to support future monarchs.

For annual milkweed, starting seeds indoors can mean the difference between a long summer of beautiful blooms with butterflies, or the joyless alternative above. I know what I’m choosing…

Note: While starting seeds indoors is a fantastic option for starting your annual milkweed supply, you can yield even better results by taking milkweed cuttings in fall, winter, or early spring.

In my next post, I’ll discuss how to proceed once your milkweed seeds have sprouted.

In case you’re wondering about any of the supplies we use, here’s the seed starting supply list

Click Here for Milkweed Seed Starting Results

Milkweed Plants for Sale and Seeds

A few days later, I stumbled across another perplexing milkweed mystery. A Florida gardener sent me a milkweed plant identification request wondering was this showy milkweed…or perhaps the plantabulous purple milkweed variety?

Over the 4th of July, I saw these same plants on a city boulevard in Chicago. After seeing them up close and personal, I was pretty sure they weren’t a perennial milkweed species I was familiar with…but I left the windy city without making a positive ID.

Now, I’ve discovered a familiar ‘swampostor’ blending in with our swamp milkweed patch. But this time the faux milkweed made a fatal mistake. The cascading flowers clearly revealed its family secret…milkweed is not the father!

The leaves look like a cross between swamp milkweed and tropical milkweed, but with deeper veins. The stalks of the plants look more like tropical milkweed.

Before I saw its flowers, I was wondering if this mystery plant could be the result of cross-pollination between swamp/tropical milkweed. After the blooms were revealed, I realized there was a milkweed impostor in our midst…

Milkweed Impostor 2

Last July, a second milkweed impostor has been discovered in the swamp milkweed patch. It also has leaves resembling Asclepias incarnata, but its flowing purple panicles have revealed it as a milkweed brother from another mother:

This season I turned to a new ally in my question for plant identification:

Plant Identification Facebook Group

A helpful group member had my answer within a matter of minutes:

Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife)

After further research I discovered this plant is classified as a noxious weed in our state, so I dug it out and put it in the yard waste can.

Another milkweed mystery solved… 

Milkweed Impostor 3

Dogbane is another plant that people often mistake for milkweed, as its leaves bear a close resemblance to common milkweed.

When comparing plants that look like milkweed, dogbane probably fools the most people into thinking they’ve found the common milkweed jackpot, but dogbane is not a viable option for hungry monarch caterpillars to feed on.

Ironically, another milkweed caterpillar, the tussock moth caterpillar is able to grow through its life cycle eating dogbane leaves…go figure!

So what is the difference between milkweed and dogbane?

Asclepias syriaca grows from a single green stem, while dogbane grows on multiple, often-reddish stems:

Common Milkweed typically blooms earlier in the season and has showier blooms:

In August and September, common milkweed plants are easy to distinguish with fat seed pods, while dogbane pods are long and slender.

Both milkweed and dogbane contain milky sap so don’t try to ID that way!

For more info on growing real milkweed for monarchs, and how to get off to a fast start this season check out our:

MILKWEED Quickstart Guide for Monarch Butterflies ⬅️

I hope you’ve found these milkweed plant identification tips helpful. If you know other plants that look like a species of milkweed and how to tell the difference, post in the comment section below…

One season, our Gomphocarpus physcocarpus (balloon plant milkweed) plants grew 8 feet tall and were our last milkweed plants to succumb to frost preceding a harsh Minnesota winter….not too shabby for a milkweed variety that’s only cold hardy to USDA zone 8!

When growing annual butterfly plants, I follow some basic rules:

1. Research plants to see if they are classified as invasive or a noxious weed for your state or region.
2. Learn what growing conditions your plant will need to thrive
3. Research potential issues and make sure you’re willing and able to deal with them
4. As the plants grow, keep a close eye on them and the surrounding plants for unexpected issues like disease or unwelcome pests
5. If problems arise, take responsibility for your garden and your community…even if that means pulling and discarding the plants

If Father Winter wipes out Asclepias species like tropical milkweed, giant milkweed, swan milkweed, hairy balls, etc…, sowing seeds outdoors each spring is not your best milkweed propagation option.

How Come? Most warm weather species don’t “get growing” until the temps trend tropical. If there’s a cool spring, your plants won’t have time to reach their full glory, or support monarchs, or produce seeds for future seasons!

Start Your Milkweed

Starting annual milkweed doesn’t require a lengthy cold stratification…or even a short one!

• Find Annual Milkweed Seeds
• Annual milkweed options are Asclepias Curassavica (tropical milkweed), Gomphocarpus Fruticosus (swan milkweed), G. Physocarpus (balloon plant), Tweedia caerulea (blue milkweed)
• Calotropis Gigantea (Giant Milkweed) and C. Procera (Milkweed Tree) may not flower their first season in northern regions so these would need to be overwintered (C. Procera is especially slow growing in our northern region)
• Fill up a small bowl with water for each milkweed species you are starting (labeling is recommended since seeds look similar)
• Put the seeds for each species in the appropriate bowl and soak them overnight in at least an inch of water. This will help soften the seed coat to increase the germination speed.

According to this seed germination database, you are supposed to soak asclepias seeds for a longer period. We’ve never done this, and overnight soaking has always given us a very high germination rate when starting seeds inside.

FAQ about Starting Milkweed Seeds Indoors

Will milkweed grow without cold stratification?

Warm weather milkweed varieties do not require cold stratification, which can even negatively impact germination rate

Should I start milkweed seeds indoors?

Starting seeds indoors in a personal preference. For warm weather milkweed varieties starting seeds indoors makes sense if you’re not willing or able to invest in rooted cuttings or milkweed plants.

How to start milkweed seeds indoors in winter?

Starting seeds in winter isn’t necessary, but starting seeds 1-2 months before planting will give you a good head start on the growing season.

When to start butterfly milkweed seeds?

In Minnesota, we typically start milkweed seeds indoors between mid-March and mid-April to plant outdoors by mid-May.

Should I start start annual milkweed seeds indoors or outdoors?

For annual seeds, I would always suggest starting seeds indoors to extend the growing season. If you don’t want to bother with seeds, invest in rooted stem cuttings or milkweed plants.

Part 2: Discover a  little trick I use to speed up milkweed seed germination. (Last year this hot germination trick got my first balloon milkweed seedlings to rise after just 3 days!)

Part 3: How to Start Milkweed Seeds Indoors RESULTS

Click the following link if you’re interested in cold moist stratification and cold treatment tips for native milkweed seeds. Happy Planting!