🦋Provide a water source such as a bird bath, shallow dish, fountain or pond. Butterflies prefer shallow water!

🦋Place your garden in a sunny area with wind breaks. Trees or sheds provide a nice windbreak for butterflies.

​🦋Native plants are the best choices for your area because insects have evolved with them and have specialized relationships. 

🦋Plant large groupings of the same plant called “pollinator targets”. They are easier to spot from the air and easier to go from plant to plant in small areas.

🦋Keep plants that bloom throughout the growing season called successive blooming. This helps pollinators at each stage of their lives.

🦋Have some early bloomers to help with spring feed visitors as well as some late bloomers for late fall visitors.

🦋Eliminate your use of pesticides which can harm both beneficial and non-native insects.

🦋Pollinators like unkempt gardens so delay the fall cleanup until Spring!

Common Butterflies and the Plants Their Caterpillars Eat

(Eastern) Black Swallowtail

Host Plants: Dill, parsley, fennel, carrot Preferred nectar sources: Golden alexanders (Zizia aptera and Z. aurea), Common Milkweed. Joe-Pye Weed, Late-flowering Boneset, Oregano, Privet, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, Zinnia Native range: ​Most of the eastern U.S., north into Quebec, west into S. Saskatchewan, Colorado and SE. California; south to South America. ​

Common Buckeye

Host plants: Plantains, gerardias, toadflax, snapdragons, false loosestrifes Preferred nectar sources: Mist Flower, White Clover, Sunflower Native range: Resident in the southern United States and north along the coasts to central California and North Carolina; south to Bermuda, Cuba, Isle of Pines, and southern Mexico. Adults from the south's first brood migrate north in late spring and summer to temporarily colonize most of the United States and parts of southern Canada. ​

Monarch

​Host plants: Milkweed species Preferred nectar sources: Blue Cardinal Flower, Swamp Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Heath Aster, Heliotrope, Joe-Pye Weed, Lantana, Late-flowering Boneset, Marigold, Mist Flower, Mustard Greens, New England Aster, New York Ironweed, Showy Coneflower, Smooth Aster, Wingstem, Zinnia Range: ​Southern Canada south through all of the United States, Central America, and most of South America. Also present in Australia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands. Conservation status: Overwintering sites in California and Mexico should be protected and conserved.

Mourning Cloak

Host Plants: Willow, aspen, cottonwood, elm Preferred nectar sources: Oak tree sap Native range: ​All of North America south of the tundra to central Mexico; rarely in the Gulf States and peninsular Florida. Also native to temperate Eurasia. Note: Adults live 10-11 months and may be our longest lived butterfly!

​Painted Lady

Host plants: Thistle, hollyhock, sunflower Preferred nectar sources: Native thistles; also aster, cosmos, blazing star, ironweed, and joe-pye weed, red clover, buttonbush, privet, and milkweeds. Native range: ​On all continents except Australia and Antarctica. From the deserts of northern Mexico, the Painted Lady migrates and temporarily colonizes the United States and Canada south of the Arctic. Occasionally, population explosions in Mexico will cause massive northward migrations. Note: The Painted Lady makes a 9,000 mile roundtrip migration (almost twice as far as the Monarch) ​

Pearl Crescent

​Host plants: Smooth-leaved true asters including Aster pilosus, A. texanus, and A. laevis. Preferred nectar sources: Black-Eyed Susan,  Common Dandelion, Daisy Fleabane,  Garlic Chives, Heath Aster, Late-flowering Boneset, Marigold, Mist Flower, New England Aster, Sedum (Autumn Joy), Showy Coneflower, Small White Aster, Stiff Goldenrod, Coreopsis ​ Native range: ​Northwest Territories south along the eastern edges of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains to central Mexico, east through all the eastern United States.

​Red Spotted Purple

Host plants: Wild cherry, oak, poplar, hawthorn, willow Preferred nectar sources: Spiraea, privet, and viburnum Native range: Alaska and subarctic Canada southeast of the Rocky Mountains to central Texas; east to New England and central Florida. Isolated populations in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas south into Mexico.  ​ Note: The Red-spotted Purple is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor).

​Regal Fritillary

​Host plants: Violets Preferred nectar sources: Milkweeds, native thistles, red clover, and mountain mint. Native range: Tall-grass prairie remnants in Montana and North Dakota south to Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma; rare or absent from former range east of the Appalachians. Conservation status: Rapidly vanishing or declining in much of its range. A species of concern for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. All populations should be conserved.

Tiger Swallowtail

​Host plants: Willow, cottonwood, chokecherry Preferred nectar sources: Blue Cardinal Flower, Bloodflower, Garlic Chives, Butterfly Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Daisy Fleabane, Dames Rocket, Dogbane Native area: ​Eastern North America from Ontario south to Gulf coast, west to Colorado plains and central Texas.

Viceroy ​

​Host plants: Willow, poplar, apple, cottonwood Preferred nectar sources: Aster, goldenrod, joe-pye weed, shepherd's needle. Native range: ​Northwest Territories south along the eastern edges of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains to central Mexico, east through all the eastern United States. Conservation status: The Obsolete Viceroy has lost much of its habitat due to development and the exotic aggressive salt cedar. Restore riparian habitats in the Southwest (Moths and Butterflies of North America)

Zebra Swallowtail

Host plants: Paw paw trees Preferred nectar sources:  Blueberry, blackberry, lilac, redbud, verbena, dogbane, and common milkweed. Native range: Central and South Eastern parts of the United States ​

​Red Admiral

Host plants: Nettle family including: stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), tall wild nettle (U. gracilis), wood nettle (Laportea canadensis), false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), pellitory (Parietoria pennsylvanica), mamaki (Pipturus albidus), and possibly hops (Humulus). Nectar sources: Dogbane, Lantana, Marigold, Mist Flower, Privet Native range: ​​Guatemala north through Mexico and the United States to northern Canada; Hawaii, some Caribbean Islands, New Zealand, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia.

We have compiled our favorite monarch activities to do with kids this Earth Day! These activities can easily be paired with free online lesson plans to give kids an educational experience that they won't forget!

Try our Pollinator Pouches for a variety of wildflowers and milkweed! These seed pouches contain 17 different nectar-rich wildflowers and 4 types of milkweed for a complete nectar and host plant source for butterflies! 

Here are a list of Amazing Monarch Facts that will fascinate kids of all ages! 

Milkweed Seed Balls Submitted by Jennifer Dawson Milkweed seed bombs are fun and easy to make and a great way to create Monarch habitat. Seed bombs are also the perfect winter project to get kids interested in gardening and the environment! In the same vein as making seed bombs, one could also make a seed bomb out of native pollen-rich plants, so that not only can children save the monarchs, bees, and other pollinators, they can get physical while doing so. After all, many children, especially those who are neurodivergent, tend to learn better through touch. Parents of children on the autism spectrum know this fact intimately, which is why milkweed gardening may provide an additional benefit.  Milkweed seeds can be purchased from Save Our Monarchs here. If you are a school, 4-H club, scout troop or homeschool provider click here for your FREE seeds.

Clay Butterflies

Here is a great tutorial by 'that artist woman' on making clay butterflies!

Start Milkweed from Seed

Growing milkweed from seed is a fun activity for all ages and can be taught alongside Rearing Monarchs in the Classroom or a Starting a School Pollinator Garden.  *Note: It is best to cold stratify milkweed seeds for 30-60 days in order to increase germination rates. Plan your lessons accordingly.   Milkweed seeds available for purchase here. If you are a school, 4-H club, scout troop or homeschool provider click here for your FREE seeds.

Rear Monarchs 

In the wild, Monarch eggs and larvae have a very small chance of survival. Several studies have documented mortality rates of over 90% during the egg and larva stages. That means only 10% of eggs and caterpillars will reach adulthood! There are many free online printables on the life cycle of butterflies. This is a great printable for a butterfly journal.  We recommend teaching a lesson on Monarch life cycles in conjunction with rearing Monarchs.  This is a great how-to on rearing monarchs in the classroom or at home.

Monarch Mask

Creating and painting Monarch Masks are another fun activity to make with kids while learning about the wonderful world of monarchs!

Butterfly Stick Puppet

Perfect for home, school, and butterfly-themed community programs, this color and cut butterfly stick puppet is an easy, inexpensive, and engaging craft for kids of all ages.

Butterfly Squish Painting

The Butterfly Squish Painting is a very simple, easy art project that can be fun for all ages but especially K-3rd grades.  ​ You can also pair art projects like this with activities such as: ​- Rearing monarchs in the classroom - Starting a butterfly garden - Fundraising - Monarch tag and release program - Bio-blitzes - Scavenger Hunts ​

Start a Fundraiser

Save Our Monarchs wants to partner with your school!  We are currently working with school districts across the country that want to educate their students about the plight of the monarch, and spread the word throughout their community through various fundraising efforts and outreach. Click here to read more about our two fundraising options.

Plant a Butterfly Garden

You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden! A few containers or raised beds can provide a habitat for hungry butterflies and bees. Outdoor classrooms can encourage observation, exploration and  instill land stewardship values. Teachers can also build a curriculum around the garden, focusing on subjects such as: biology, environmental studies, writing, and art. ​ More information on starting a school pollinator garden.

Symbolic Monarch Migration

​Metamorphosis Dramatization

​This last method needs no actual plants or animals – only enthusiastic children. A monarch caterpillar’s metamorphosis is one of the most dramatic events in the animal world, so why not dramatize it? Children can be induced to put on a play wherein a monarch caterpillar transitions into a monarch butterfly. This can be done with a class of students or at home with parents playing some of the roles. A personalized approach to monarch awareness can be more effective than one that is theoretical. Monarch butterflies are iconic creatures that many children will feel privileged to learn about. However, they are currently experiencing a population crisis. With the knowledge gained from guest speakers, milkweed planting, and metamorphosis dramatizations, such children can join the fight to save the monarchs.

Get creative and think up your own activity! Please send any Monarch activity ideas to [email protected] and we will keep adding to the list. Thank you for reading!

Although many of us are spending more time at home due to the health crisis, ​there are still many ways you can support the monarchs without leaving your backyard. Now is the perfect time to start brainstorming your beautiful butterfly garden, planting milkweed and collecting data to help with citizen science projects!

During these trying times it is more important than ever to engage in activities that bring joy and hope to others. The monarchs are heading north now and we hope that everyone will greet them with milkweed to lay their eggs and wildflowers to fuel their flight! We thank you all for your efforts!

1. Plant Pollinator Habitat Wherever You Can

By starting a butterfly garden, you are providing necessary sustenance for Monarchs along their long migration route and providing them with breeding grounds so that successive generations of Monarchs are able to complete their migration route to Mexico. The need for host plants and nectar plants applies to all Monarchs as well as other butterfly populations.

2. Teach Children About Monarch Conservation

There are a variety of fun activities to engage kids in monarch conservation and biology! Remember that you are educating the next generation of monarch conservationists! One great way to engage children in Monarch conservation is to plant a garden at school or at home! Save Our Monarchs has provided seeds for over 6,000 school gardens and our goal is to install 20,000 gardens in 2020! Help us to reach our goal by getting your free seeds today!

3. Rear Monarchs from Home

In the wild, Monarch eggs and larvae have a very small chance of survival. Several studies have documented mortality rates of over 90% during the egg and larva stages. That means only 10% of eggs and caterpillars will reach adulthood!  Not only is this a fun activity for the whole family but you are helping out an entire species!

4. Start Your Milkweed Indoors

Starting seeds at home is a cost-efficient and fun way to get a head-start on the gardening  season! With a little bit of planning, it will also ensure that you have milkweed plants growing outside when the monarchs migrate through your region. Starting your seeds in a controlled environment allows you to make adjustments to soil, temperature, and moisture for best germination results. You can also refer to our  blog post on How to start Milkweed seeds indoors to get started!​ It's not too late to buy seeds!

5. Participate in a Citizen Science Projects

6. Support Organizations Working to Sustain Monarchs

7. Conduct Your Own Research​

There are many resources out there about monarch conservation and butterfly gardening. Doing your own research will stir up questions and allow you to educate other on ways to help our pollinators. Your local library is a great place to start your research!

Starting milkweed seeds indoors is a great way to ensure you will have milkweed plants ready for them when they arrive.

Cold stratification is just a fancy way of saying cold exposure and is known to increase germination rates by waking the seeds up from their dormancy cycle. 

Most Milkweed varieties need 30 days of cold exposure to break their dormancy cycle and this can easily be done in your own home. In nature, this keeps Milkweed plants from germinating at times when conditions are not favorable for growth.  

Asclepias incarnata stratifying in a cold/moist chamber at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Photo by Rebecca Chandler.

Materials Needed

Step 1: Wet a paper towel and lay on a flat surface.  Wet a paper towel and gently wring it out so it is damp but not dripping with water. Too much water may cause the seeds to mold inside the bag.  Step 2: Sprinkle 10-20 milkweed seeds on the paper towel.  I may be best to sprinkle the seeds onto half of the paper towel so when you fold it, the seeds will not overlap. Step 3: Fold the paper towel into quarters.  ​Step 4: Place the paper towel into the bag, seal, and label.  ​Label the bag with the date and type of seed. I like to include both the common and scientific name but this is up to you. You may even want to set a reminder on your phone or calendar so you can remember to take them out in 30 days. Step 5: Place in the refrigerator for 30-60 days.  ​Store the mixture in the refrigerator (33–38°F) for the recommended time on your seed packet. For Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Prairie Moon Nursery recommends 30 days of cold stratification.  Make sure to put your seeds somewhere safe in the fridge where they will not be disturbed. I like to put the bag into a tupperware container to ensure they don't get smashed or damaged. Check on the seeds after a few weeks and if you notice the seeds starting to sprout in the bag, plant immediately! ​​Recommended Cold Stratification Periods According to Milkweed Species Common Milkweed              (Asclepias syriaca)         30 days Swamp Milkweed                  (Asclepias incarnata)    30 days Whorled Milkweed              (Asclepias verticillata)  30 days Prairie Milkweed                   (Asclepias sullivantii)    30 days Western Sand Milkweed  (Asclepias arenaria)       60 days Butterfly Milkweed             (Asclepias tuberosa)       30 days Showy Milkweed                   (Asclepias speciosa)       30 days *Note that warm weather species such as Tropical Milkweed do not need a cold stratification period.  How to Plant Milkweed Seeds Indoors Step 1: Place seeds in trays ​After 30-60 days, it’s time to plant your Milkweed seeds. You can plant them in seed trays, peat pots, small pots or any other container that allows for water drainage. Dampen your soil with a spray bottle full of water and place 1-2 seeds into each 2" container. Sow seeds lightly on the top of the soil. You may press in gently but they need light to germinate so please don’t bury them! Step 2: Water seeds gently Be gentle when watering new seedlings because they are very delicate. It is recommended to water from the bottom up by adding a half-inch of water to the bottom of a tray and placing the pots inside this tray. Some people prefer to use a spray mister to water their seedlings.  You can check the soil moisture simply by touching it to see if it feels damp. Take care not to overwater your seeds which can lead to fungus growth. It is helpful to have a fan nearby to provide airflow and ventilation.  Step 4: Your seeds need light! Make sure your milkweed has enough light to grow whether that be under an artificial grow light or near a sunny window. If your seedlings start to become "leggy" expose them to more light.  The sturdier the seedling, the better! Step 5: Plant outdoors Milkweed seeds can be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and the seedlings have grown around 1-5 inches high. To make the transition from indoors to outdoors less stressful, start by putting the seedlings outdoors for a few hours a day for up to a week before planting them outdoors. ​ Resources The American Meadows Blog: How to Germinate and Grow Milkweed Seed. https://www.americanmeadows.com/blog/2015/06/11/how-to-germinate-and-grow-milkweed-seed/ Prairie Moon Nursery: How to Germinate Native Seeds. https://www.prairiemoon.com/blog/how-to-germinate-native-seeds ​ Henrikson, Bob. Gardening with Prairie Plants. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.  https://plantnebraska.org/plants/bloom-box/resources-for-bloom-box-gardeners.html

Step 1: Gather your materials

Step 2: Add soil 

Step 3: Make holes 

Step 4: Plant your seeds

Step 5: Water

Lastly...