🌿 Why Common is our #1 RAISING Milkweed❓🤔

Happy Thursday Royal RAISEr,

Milkweed Madness continues this April, where we discuss all things milkweed to get you excited (and ready!) for the 2025 growing season.

One of my favorite milkweed varieties for supporting monarchs is Asclepias syriaca aka common milkweed. In fact, it’s the most abundant milkweed in both our old and new gardens.

Yes, its growth can be invasive/aggressive in the garden, but…that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plant it! It does mean you should be be more thoughtful about where you plant it. Check out common tips further down your newsletter…

The spring migration has begun and monarchs are already flowing into north Texas....will you be ready with fresh milkweed? 🌿🤔

If you’re looking for a fast start to the season and want to be ready for the first spring migrators when they arrive, check out our just posted description page for:

Milkweed QUICKSTART Guide for Monarch Butterflies ⬅️

Now back to our milkweed of the day…

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Milkweed Madness 2025

Asclepias syriaca is the early season workhorse for monarch eggs and caterpillar kids 🌿🐛, with heavenly-scented nectar-filled blooms for their parents. 🌸 🦋

With its large, thick leaves, it’s our #1 milkweed for feeding milkweed cuttings to monarch caterpillars.

This hardy plant can be found in southern US states, and thrives northward well into Canada.

If it grows in your region, it's definitely worth consideration. YES, Common Milkweed can be aggressive/invasive in a garden setting, but there are ways to make it behave, covered on the linked page below:

Common Milkweed Photos and Growing Info ⬅️ 🧐

2 Growing Tips for those concerned about aggressive growth:

1. Plant A. syriaca in its own section of the garden, where it won’t interfere with other garden plants

2. Don’t be afraid to pull plants coming up in inconvenient areas. If it’s bad now, it will only get worse later! Of course, check any milkweed you’re discarding for eggs/caterpillars. You can also transplant milkweed to other areas.

If you keep common milkweed in check, you will be able to fully enjoy this amazing monarch host and nectar plant without the growing challenges.

Consider adding common milkweed to your garden this spring and watch as nature comes alive! 🌿🐛🐝🦋😍

More milkweed ideas coming soon 🪴💡 

Until Next Time,
Tony your Butterfly Guide


Milkweed QUICKSTART Guide for Monarch Butterflies 🌿 ⬅️