Comments on: Support Monarchs with Butterfly Milkweed Plants

By: Bonnie Pega

Bonnie Pega — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:56:52 +0000

In reply to Pamela. Pamela, a lot depends on exactly how much sun in total these are all getting. To perform it's best, an echinacea needs a minimum of five hours of direct sun though it would prefer six hours or more to perform its best. On the red echinacea check the tag to see which variety it is. Some only get 18 to 24 inches tall total. As for the milkweed, the orange-blooming tuberosa is a perennial and, like most perennials, has a set blooming season and when it's finished blooming, will not bloom again until next summer.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:14:56 +0000

Bonnie, i also planted several pollinating flowers earlier last month on 1 side of the fence, gets sun morning & late afternoon. Half of them grew @ blossomed, the others not so. 1 orange blooming milkeeed initially grew eith flowers & then no more flowers. Don’t know if i need to move this plant to a sunnier spot or to stop watering weekly. Also 1 beautiful dark red coneflower has not grown at all. It has only recently had couple blooms but remained height as planted. Thanks for your advice .

By: Bonnie Pega

Bonnie Pega — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 14:44:10 +0000

In reply to Kendra P. Hi Kendra. Because any product you use to kill aphids will also kill caterpillars, if aphids do show up, just rinse them off. Yes, you could use ladybugs but, remember, they only stay around while there is food. Once they clean up the aphids, they'll take off for buggier territory.

By: Mary Dumont

Mary Dumont — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 12:08:44 +0000

Thank you, that helps. I will plant some next spring!

By: Kendra P

Kendra P — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 12:01:58 +0000

My milkweed was covered with little yellow aphids (I’m assuming). It never bloomed, but five monarch caterpillar showed up and ate despite the aphids. One day they were all gone. I hope they went hanging and didn’t get gobbled by a bird.

What can I do to prevent these aphids? Ladybugs?

By: Bonnie Pega

Bonnie Pega — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:36:08 +0000

Mary, I’m glad you’re planting for pollinators. Aphids will occasionally show up on many plants–including milkweed–but it is extremely easy to deal with. Since it conveniently shows up on new growth and flower buds (where it’s so easy to spot) I simply take my garden hose and rinse it off at the same I’m using my fingers to “rub” it off. That said, I would rather take home a plant that doesn’t have it on there. However I’ve never had to resort to an actual spray for aphids since the garden hose and my fingers do a great job of keeping it under control.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 15:06:57 +0000

Everything I plant is for pollinators, even host plants. I would like to give butterfly weed a try. Last week at the store I was going to include two plants with my purchases, saw the information about aphids, saw the aphids on the plants and put them back. This intimidates me. Will they move to all the other plants I have? I might plant some at the edge of the yard but I have butterfly bush, beauty berry and summer sweet planted there.

By: Bonnie Pega

Bonnie Pega — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:34:34 +0000

Deer might occasionally eat milkweed, but it it not anywhere near the top of the list of their favorites. There are many other things they’d rather eat. They don’t like the milky sap. I have had milkweed in my yard for several years and they haven’t bothered it.

By: Bonnie Pega

Bonnie Pega — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:30:33 +0000

Dayna–be sure to plant parsley, dill, or fennel for the Black Swallowtail Butterflies.

By: m. endlich

m. endlich — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 17:41:33 +0000

Do deer eat milkweed?