Bright orange and black wings flutter by on the journey that defies all odds. Monarch butterflies born in the fall must fly about 3,000 miles to reach their overwintering ground in Mexico. These native insects are under threat from many different hazards, and their numbers are declining. One of the best ways we can support monarchs, and other native insects, is by providing them with appropriate food sources.
Conservationists at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia stress the importance of planting native species in your home garden to support native wildlife, such as the monarch butterfly.
“Adult monarch butterflies need native, nectar-producing powerhouse plants, especially during their spring and fall migrations,” said Will Rogers, the garden’s conservation research professional. “These native plant species, also known as keystone species, are critical in supporting our native pollinators and ecosystems. They can be sourced from a variety of genera, including but not limited to Phlox, Symphyotrichum (Aster), Rudbeckia, Penstemon, Monarda and many others.”
In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service submitted a proposal to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, due to significant loss of the North American population since the 1980s.
You can support the monarch butterfly by planting native plants that provide them with food and shelter in your home gardens.
One of the best species for monarchs, as well as many other pollinators, is Pycnanthemum or mountain mint. Native pollinators love mountain mint, and with over 20 species native to Georgia, Pycnanthemum can be a staple in any native pollinator garden, according to Jennifer Ceska, the garden’s conservation coordinator.
Monarch caterpillars are special in that they require a specific host plant, milkweed or Asclepias. They feed mainly on this genus, so it is imperative that you select the right plants for your area when incorporating them into your garden.
The milkweeds you select should be native and ecoregion appropriate. If you can plant just two Asclepias species, Rogers recommends Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed, and Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly milkweed. They are easy to find in native plant retail locations, easy to grow and are appropriate for all regions of Georgia.
According to Ceska and Rogers, not all green is good; it matters which plants you incorporate into your garden. Avoid any Asclepias species not native to the U.S., including tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. Similarly, avoid any Asclepias not naturally found in your region. For Georgia, this includes Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed.
Once you’ve planted your garden, Rogers says not to give up if the plants don’t bloom or you don’t see monarchs right away. It can take a year or two for plants to become established in your garden. It’s also OK to start small.
“Science has shown that planting just one keystone species can support a lot of diversity,” said Ceska. “Perhaps over time, you can plant multiple individuals and multiple species.”
Monarchs are excellent botanists and pharmacists. They can find milkweed plants to lay their eggs and specific plants to collect medicines to treat themselves from ailments. Adult monarch butterflies collect pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the dried leaves of asters and boneset to treat themselves medicinally, which is another reason to incorporate keystone native plants in your garden.
It is also essential to leave stems in your garden throughout the fall and winter to support monarchs and other native species. Bees lay eggs in the stems of native plants, and they provide shelter over the winter season.
“Teaching that an unshorn winter garden is beautiful and ecologically essential is important for Georgia pollinators,” said Ceska.
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, a unit of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia, offers various resources to support homeowners looking to provide for pollinators in their home gardens.
The “Milkweed and Monarchs” brochure, created in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Monarchs Across Georgia, the Georgia Native Plant Society and other partners, provides more information about which Asclepias species you can plant in Georgia.
The Georgia Pollinator Plant of the Year and Connect to Protect programs help to take the guesswork out of what species homeowners should include in their gardens. Additionally, resources such as the Native Plant Nursery List provide information about sourcing these plants around the state.
The garden’s upcoming Fall Native Plant Sale offers many native species for any landscape, from large gardens to pots, and experts will be on hand to answer questions. For more information, visit botgarden.uga.edu.
Writers: Laurel Clark, laurel.clark@uga.edu; Will Rogers, bonjour@uga.edu; and Jennifer Ceska, jceska@uga.edu
