Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are well-known as the host plants for monarch butterfly caterpillars, playing a critical role in the butterfly’s life cycle. As milkweed populations are declining and the monarch is moving toward the endangered species, increasing numbers of gardeners are adding the plant to their cultivation list. In California, they can choose between 15 species of milkweed native to the state. Milkweed and the Monarch Milkweeds are drought-tolerant plants that occur in nearly all of the ecosystems in California. Although the 15 native species of milkweed in California are best known for the role they play in the life cycle of monarch butterflies, the showy flowers with their high quality nectar actually help support a wide range of pollinators, from honeybees to hummingbirds. Milkweed gets its name from the sap, which is milky. It contains alkaloids, complex chemicals that help to preserve milkweed for pollinators, since it renders the […]
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