How to Identify Milkweed Plants Quickly and Confidently

3/18/2018

You may have read in my last blog post that becoming a citizen scientist is one important way that you can help the Monarchs. There are many projects dedicated to monitoring Milkweed populations and they are in of need citizen scientists such as yourself!

One way to becoming a citizen scientist is to participate in a Milkweed monitoring survey. This requires you to be able to identify the Milkweed in your area. Luckily, Milkweed is very easily identifiable by its flowers and fruits. With just a few simple hints, you will be able to find and confidently identify Milkweed. Even if you aren't positive on the species, many surveys are just looking for general Milkweed plant populations.

The Patterns Method

I highly recommend the "patterns method" of identifying plants that Thomas Elpel covers in his book
Botany In a Day. It is a quick and fun way to learn how to identify hundreds of plants in a short amount of time. Botanists and taxonomists have created a filing system based on these patterns. Once you can identify these key similarities in a plant family, you are able to identify the species of the plant much faster.

Image from Thomas J. Elpel's Botany in a Day

For instance, plants in the milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae, (don't let the name intimidate you), secrete a milky sap (except for Butterfly Milkweed) and opposite or sometimes whorled leaves. There are 5 separate sepals (petal-like leaves) and 5 fused petals. The corona (circle of petals around the center of the flower) contains 5 hooded forms facing inwards. Inside the corona there are 5 stamens (male parts) fused to the ovary (female part). The pods are filled with many seeds with silky tufts.

Flowers

Milkweed flower color varies across species and can be white, yellow, green, purple, pink, orange, or red. However, the Milkweed patterns are consistent on all Milkweeds. This picture illustrates the corona with it's 5 hoods (this is where nectar is stored) and it's 5 petals which are usually bent backwards.

A. hallii. Photo: Steven Lynch

Fruits

Milkweed fruits or pods are easy to identify although their size and shape can vary. Once they are mature, the pods split longitudinal and relase the seeds within. The seeds are dispersed by wind so they are light and fluffy.

Showy milkweed (A. speciosa) pods, seeds, and floss. Photo: Ed Ogle/flickr. CC BY 2.0.

Milky Sap

Milkweeds actually get their name from this milky sap that secretes when the plant is injured. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is the only species of Milkweed without this defense mechanism. If you think you have a Milkweed but are unsure, tear a piece off to look for the sap but try not to get it on your skin or in your eyes. This is the plant's defense mechanism against herbivory.

Milkweed sap. Photo: Emma Pelton/Xerces Society

Butterfly Milkweed- Asclepias tuberosa

Stem: 20 to 60 cm tall.

Flowers: bright orange-yellow, arranged in umbels.

Leaves: alternate on the stem (not opposite each other), lance-shaped, 5 to 10 cm long, smooth on top and downy beneath.

Habitat: limestone soils, open, rocky, dry sites. Does not tolerate shade.

Unique feature: no milky sap.

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Photo by Larry Stritch.

Swamp Milkweed- Asclepias incarnata

Stem: Downy (hairy), from 60 to 200 cm tall.

Umbels: Red or purplish-pink.

Leaves: Narrow, tapered, 4 to 17 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs.

Fruits: Long, narrow and smooth follicles, changing colour from green to brownish.

Habitat: Wetlands. Also found in swamps, ditches and near streams, rivers and lakes.

Population: Often scattered – does not form dense colonies.

Swamp milkweed Photo courtesy of Jennifer Anderson, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Common Milkweed- Asclepias syriaca

Stem: downy, usually single, 90 to 120 cm tall. Underground stems.

Leaves: broad and thick, 10 to 20 cm long, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem and with pubescent undersides.

Flowers: pale pink or violet, arranged in almost spherical umbels.

Fruits: large spindle-shaped fruit, bumpy, rough and downy.

Habitat: poor, dry soil, disturbed, sunny sites.

Whole plant with flowers. Photo by David Taylor.

Showy Milkweed- Asclepias speciosa

Stem: 45 to 200 cm tall, velvety or pubescent (hairy).

Flowers: Pale pink, arranged in umbels. The corona hoods are long (9 to 13 mm) and lance-shaped, making the flowers look like stars.

Leaves: Opposite, 10 to 25 cm long, smooth or slightly downy.

Habitat: Well-drained soil, sunny sites, pastures, forest edges,untilled fields, roadsides, ditches.

Showy milkweed (A. speciosa). Photo: Sarina Jepsen/Xerces Society

Resources
Elpel,Thomas-Botany in a Day http://www.wildflowers-and weeds.com/Plant_Identification/Patterns_in_Plants.htm Mission Monarch- Milkweed sheet

Monarch Mission. http://www.mission-monarch.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/07/FICHES_ASCLE%CC%81PIADE_ANG_FINAL.pdf Thomas G. Barnes, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Barnes, T.G., and S.W. Francis. 2004. Wildflowers and ferns of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky.

USDA Forest Service. Plant of the Week. https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/asclepias_syriaca.shtml

96 Comments

Roy

8/3/2018 06:51:20 pm

Thank you so much for posting this. It’s been so hard to find a good source with clear picture of all the different types of milkweed.

Rebecca Chandler

4/16/2019 12:08:54 pm

I'm so glad it was helpful!!

Carolyn

9/11/2020 03:00:08 pm

What is the best milkweed to plant for monarchs
In Cincinnati, Ohio. I have a cocoon on the side of my house. The ironic thing is there is no milkweed around my house.

Edith Fugate

1/31/2021 08:43:20 pm

where can i get these ?

Laura Riester

8/19/2018 08:49:35 am

Aaaahhhhhh - finally some excellent photographs to describe the milkweeds! Thank You.

4/16/2019 12:09:24 pm

Thank you for reading! :)

CharlieLange

9/20/2018 11:13:48 am

So, I planted milkweed from seed ( roadside pods) that do secrete the milky substance when injured. Will this variety attract and feed Monarch larva ?

Elizabeth

1/22/2019 05:39:43 pm

Yes, they will attract monarchs.

Jo Nichols

11/5/2018 06:42:39 pm

Is it “ok” for me to grow milkweed from Minnesota seeds, where I live in California (Sunnyvale)? When I was north of Minneapolis just this past August, my friend gave me a bunch of her milkweed seeds. The pods were large and the leaves roundish. I’ve never seen milkweed like those around here. I have slender-leafed, yellow-orange/red flowers; I don’t know species—I bought the plant locally; it may be non-native; it grows back when I cut it back.

4/16/2019 12:15:07 pm

Hi Jo,
I apologize for my late reply. It sounds like your are describing Common Milkweed (asclepias syriaca) which has roundish leaves and large pods. I can't be certain without seeing a picture though. The yellow orange/red milkweed that you have at your home is most likely Tropical Milkweed (asclepias curassavica)
Before planting, I would check to see if this type of milkweed is native to your area. A great place to check is https://www.wildflower.org/plants/
Thank you!

Nick

11/30/2018 11:23:56 pm

Thank you so much for this. I was looking to help two fellers with there shine and they asked me to look in the surrounding area so now I can get them but I got distracted by a 3 star deer and I’m sure I can get a perfect pelt from it.

Many thanks again.

Arthur Hamilton

4/15/2019 08:42:05 pm

Love sharpness of the photos- Thanks

4/16/2019 12:15:40 pm

Thank you for reading!

Melissa

5/6/2019 06:54:57 am

I found a monarch butterfly in my backyard. It has an injured wing. I tried to create a habitat for it. Can it eat sugar water on a cotton ball? If not what do I feed it? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

vicki shields link

5/7/2019 05:45:34 pm

it eats pollen from flowers and sugar water will help there are videos on fixing wings thank you

Alexandra

5/6/2019 03:22:22 pm

Great job, but how about expanding on this to include all the native milkweed species?

4/4/2020 09:17:23 am

Great idea! I will work on that :)

Loren Carle

5/30/2020 08:47:01 pm

Agreed! I was hoping both to find the Mexican Whorled, and other species appropriate to Utah (Salt Lake City - desert valley floor—very alkaline, clay-rich soil—ancient lake-bottom). I am also looking for ways of recognising the young plants, so I don’t weed them with the dandelions. Trying to move the neglected lawn gently towards healthy native meadow, a few dandelions and foxtails at a time.

Barbara Walker

6/5/2019 05:21:00 am

I found what looks like milkweed in a field. The leaves secrete milk but the stems are reddish; the ones in my garden have green stems so I'm wondering if this is actually milkweed or a pretender? The field plants have early white flowers, whereas my 2-year old garden plants have never flowered. Thank you.

Russ Reeves link

6/19/2019 09:35:06 am

I have the same situation. The flowers are not what I would call in an umbel shape and they are very small (about 1/8 inch across).

Russell Reeves

6/25/2019 01:12:32 pm

Dogbane maybe. Do a search on Google and compare the images to what you have. Dogbane is poisonous so I ripped mine out.

Jen link

6/25/2019 01:01:37 pm

Great post... I haven't done the rip the leaf test yet but just looking at the photos here, pretty sure that's what I have.
SO. NOT the one monarchs use? Not at all? Should I just treat it as any other weed then and get rid of them? (in a bad spot but I will leave them if they help butterflies." It's not yet flowering, hopefully someone can answer before it does. I may not want more of them.
Thanks.

Rebecca

6/26/2019 12:13:07 pm

So, the milkweeds with the milky sap ARE the ones that the Monarchs eat. The only milkweed plant that doesn't exude the latex is Butterfly Milkweed and the Monarchs will still feed on this type. Although Monarchs have preferences of some varieties over others, Monarchs will feed on most species of milkweed. The ones they especially seem to like are the four mentioned on this page along with Tropical Milkweed and Red Milkweed. Be careful when doing the leaf tear test because the latex can be an irritant to skin and especially eyes. Thanks for your question!

6/26/2019 01:31:30 pm

Hey thanks for the reply. I've been doing some more homework on this, perhaps something that should be added here?

Someone above my post mentioned dogbane. VERY similar but much more toxic and butterflies will NOT eat it. So how to tell them apart?

Dogbane has a redish stem. Milkweed can have some red but big difference. Dogbane will also branch out, milkweed does not. And milkweed is thicker, stouter, bigger leaves. There are several videos on youtube about this. Helps to see it.

But the big one here, cut the stem. If it's hallow, you have milkweed. Solid, dogbane.
And then there are the seed pods. Dogbane makes skinny ones, some look like string beans. Milkweed has those big fat pods.

Now I don't want to look at the stems of mine since it would mean sacrificing the flower head so that can wait. I'll wait to see what the seed pods look like. But I'm pretty sure I have the kind butterflies WILL eat. About five of them cropped up. (There is one plant next door, we own that house too that I have been careful not to mow but I have never seen butterflies on it.)

I do have the butterfly plant to, the one with orange flowers? Took years of trying to get one to take but it's good now. comes up every year. But it never spreads and again I've never seen anyone munching it.

If I have the right kind, I have nothing but unwanted weeds out behind our pole barn. Gonna try and save the seeds and next spring, clean up the area and toss those seeds around. Maybe get a nice patch of it back there. Gotta help the butterflies ya know?

Roni Smith

6/26/2019 06:06:41 am

Which of milkweed types does the Monarch like?

4/4/2020 09:19:38 am

Hi Roni,
Monarchs like ALL species of milkweed. However, I would choose species of milkweed that are native to your area. In order to find out with species are native to your area check out: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/

Eric Claeyborn

12/12/2021 01:44:56 am

There are a couple of bad milkweed plants that you'll want to get rid of. The Pale Swallow-wort and the Black Swallow-wort Milkweed. Just Google some pictures of them. They'll kill Monarchs.

john mcguire link

7/13/2019 09:28:25 pm

last year i had a few butterfly plants that produces the seeds for wind distribution. they came back this year but so did so other milkweed plans that grew to almost 6ft tall. just before they could flower the home owners assoc. contacted me and demanded i cut down the weeds since i'm 83 ,on limited income i could not have them come and cut down the plants so i had to do it. idonot know if they would have attracted monarchs but i wanted the chance the parent plants are just 2 1/2 feet tall. is there a smaller plant i can get to do the job.

Patti Farris

7/26/2019 11:29:49 am

Hi John,

Asclepias incarnata and asclepias tuberosa both will stay fairly short. Not sure where you are located but the Monarchs in my yard love asclepias incarnata.

Ann Knudson

7/19/2021 01:23:00 pm

Suggest you, and any friends you can recruit, run for office in your homeowners association. Take it over and you can grow milkweed in peace.

7/26/2019 11:26:33 am

Is there a simple way to tell a. speciosa from a. syriaca? In the wild they look very similar but in the picture here syriaca seems to have a reddish hint to its leaf veins.

Greta

10/13/2019 09:03:44 pm

For me, the flowers are distinctively different. A. speciosa has longer hoods on top that point outwards, giving it a starry look. The hoods on A. syriaca are shorter and stick straight up.

April Fairweather

8/16/2019 07:01:27 am

This is my second year and, so far, I'm flunking Milkweed 101. Last year I planted six asclepias incarnata which came along nicely both years but no, I mean NO, butterfly action. I now wonder if they really are swamp milkweed or some imposter. Four to six thick, heavy,dark greenish-brown stalks arise from a single stump. The leaves are healthy and look exactly like the incarnata in on-line photos. It's mid-August and I have only tiny, green buds, no flowers. Late bloomers or fakes? No eggs or caterpillars to be found, not a single chewed leaf, and no frassy poo. I have a patch of other incarnata (I think) where each plant arises from a single, independent, flimsy stem. These attract monarchs and I've had some caterpillars - none survived. In an effort to protect them from flying, stinging, poisonous, infectious insects, I erected a small lattice shelter then covered it with fine net. (Somehow I'd managed to trap a monarch, then my cat got inside and laid on the fragile plants.) Yesterday when I discovered two tiny caterpillars on the plants outside the net tent, I carefully removed the plants (complete with attached caterpillars) then transplanted to the safety of the tent. I guess after all this, my questions are: Shall I pull out the stumps of those incarnata-like plants that are not attracting monarchs? And what has happened to those that died? And am I beating myself up with the tent idea? I will happily submit photos of all of the above. Heading out now for a cat-count probably ending in renewed discouragement. Thank you for any advice. April Fairweather, Central PA

Jenny

8/16/2019 11:37:50 am

April, first I'm no expert but just curious, did you obtain or buy seeds? Only a guess here but it seems finding locally growing weed might be a better idea. And if your in a big city it might mean a road trip, stuff grows anywhere weeds can grow and not be mowed down.
I'm in rural Michigan and now that I know what it looks like, there is no shortage at all. (mine is the common type, Asclepias syriaca which I let grow in my yard. But it's all over the place. Typically along side any country road, in the ditch that doesn't get mowed but not quite into the farm fields.) The stuff in my yard, almost every leaf has eggs on it. I had more trouble clipping off leaves to feed my captive caterpillars that did not have eggs on it. So perhaps local populations look for the plant that is common locally??? Just a guess.
I think next summer I let nature do it's thing. At least in my area the monarchs don't appear to need any help.

JJM

8/24/2019 07:37:46 am

Thank you for posting, thank you for the helpful comments and thank you planting! I have a hard time weeding out the “weedy-weeds” from the desired plants and this helps me.

Alice Ray

9/8/2019 08:49:54 am

I have the orange flowering milkweed which I started by digging up from a road side ditch that was about to be mowed down. It has been blooming in my garden for years but it blooms and makes pods with seeds attached to silky fluff that I try every fall to let loose along my long lane. Nothing shows...should I save the seeds and plant it in the spring? The monarchs do not appear here (upper SC) until the milkweed seed has blown away. They usually appear in late September and October. I do try to grow butterfly bushes (four) to feed them but I would like to have more flowers blooming for them as they travel. Years ago when my daughters were young, we lay down in our yard and were amazed to watch a trail of hundreds of monarchs passing over our farm. We have not seen that many since and their numbers are decreasing each year. We get lots of fritillary and swallowtail and other smaller butterflies but treasure the sight of monarchs.Thank you for your website which has helped me.

9/8/2019 11:56:52 am

Pretty sure it's the common variety they prefer to eat as caterpillars. (Second from the bottom picture on this page.) The one with the rosy pink flowers on it. I have the orange one too and though I see butterflies drinking nectar I have never seen any kind of caterpillar on it. Same goes for the butterfly bush.

That orange stuff I have also never been able to get going from seed. I bought mine as bare root from a garden catalog. (Even that I had to try several times before one took.)

Victor

6/13/2020 01:57:25 pm

I have many of the orange flowering Milkweed plants. I grew them from seed and this year I have well over 50 seed pods. Last Year I had a few and a couple have sprouted after I planted the seeds. Last year I had two cats on them and they were devouring the plants.

Rikiev

9/11/2019 04:06:05 pm

One odd thing I just discovered. There are some small furry caterpillars in my milkweed. They have the color of a monarch butterfly. Now, the interesting part is, I just saw a monarch caterpillar on my semi-dried dill plant. Is this a normal behavior ?

4/4/2020 09:24:08 am

Hi Rikiev,
It sounds like you may be seeing MIlkweed Tussock Moths on your milkweed (do a google search to confirm). The Monarch caterpillars do not actually look like the butterfly. They are yellow, black and white striped. Now, the Eastern Swallowtail caterpillars look very similar to Monarch caterpillars but they feed on plants in the Dill, Parsley, Carrot family. So it sounds like you have Swallowtail and Tussock Moths! Don't worry, the Monarchs will come to your milkweed as well. Thanks for your questions!

Alanna Hofer

9/11/2019 06:21:45 pm

I found a monarch caterpillar in my backyard, and I was missing so I took it in. I have never raised a monarch, but I have raised caterpillars before. The problem is I don't know if my weed ridden yard has any milkweed in it. I looked in the area, but I couldn't find any plants that matches the description or the picture, although I did just mow the lawn. How do I find milkweed in the absence of seed pods AND flowers when just mowed. And what do I do if there is no milkweed. What would a monarch caterpillar be out here without milkweed, anyway. I don't know if milkweed even grows here in the Midwest.

9/11/2019 08:57:35 pm

If you found a monarch caterpillar, you must have milkweed close. Doubt you mowed it since it grows so tall. Almost as tall as a corn stalk. Look at those last two photos here, that's what I have. Raised a half dozen or so indoors just clipping leaves and feeding them. But that's the ONLY thing they eat. Gotta be some around. Once I knew what I was looking for and started looking around, the stuff is growing along side most country roads here, In the ditch between where they mow the side of the road and farms and such. Plenty of it. I'm in MI by the way if that helps.

Cindy

7/23/2020 10:26:15 am

Hi Jenny, I'm in way north end of Oakland County MI, heavily wooded and open meadows. This spring I repurposed my kitchen garden to a 'b& b' flower patch with whatever tasty nursery plants I could get around here, and tada! we have monarchs already! Am planning now how to do purposeful improvements for next year. Any thoughts? Thinking of simply expanding one end, say 12'× 6' for a dozen - fifteen or so locally sourced common Michigan milkweed, whatever I can scout or beg from local properties before frost. We use no chemicals but after 30 years here suburbia is encroaching, less frogs and swallows is our bellwether. Thanks.

Darla L Vos

10/10/2019 09:40:09 am

Thanks so much for this. It is just what I've been looking for.

4/4/2020 09:24:45 am

Thank you for reading, I'm glad it was helpful. :)

Maria S Catalino

11/11/2019 02:54:26 pm

When I learned that the Mexican Milkweed, which grows very tall, carries a parasite injurious to the chrysalis I quickly pulled up all of mine. Hope all Monarch lovers are aware of this.

11/11/2019 06:59:10 pm

Wow, thanks for the heads-up! I looked that up, and found that the parasite is only a problem in places where the mexican milkweed doesn't die back to the ground in the winter. It's Question #4 on this page: https://monarchjointventure.org/news-events/news/qa-about-research-related-to-tropical-milkweed-and-monarch-parasites

elaine link

1/4/2020 12:24:01 pm

I am having extreme sinus problems and the feathery white flowers are everywhere in my yard and pool in January. Do you know is these little flowers or the milkweed plant they come from cause allergies to some people.

4/4/2020 09:29:12 am

Hi Elaine,
I have only heard of the milkweed sap causing allergic reactions if you touch it to your skin/eyes but not the seed hairs (the fluffy white stuff that comes out of the seed heads). Thanks for your question!

Tom Griffiths

1/24/2020 10:12:31 pm

I read in our local newspaper about the recent decline of the monarch, I do see them occasionally here in our garden in Concord, CA; I will talk to our local nursery to see if they can recommend something that I can put in our garden (we have plenty of garden space here) that will help them...Thank you..

4/4/2020 09:31:43 am

Hi Tom,
Wonderful! Thanks so much for your help.
A couple of things to ask your local nursery:
If they do carry milkweed, do they spray their plants with any insecticides? Insecticides will kill the soft-bodied Monarch caterpillars.
Also, do they carry a native variety of milkweed? It is best to use native species of milkweed because the non-native ones such as Tropical Milkweed have been known to get more diseases.
Thank you!

Faye

2/23/2020 04:34:55 am

I am in Australia just recently I have found about 30 catapiller on my milkweed plant. In which they demolished it in no time flat. What else can I feed them. They are monarch

4/4/2020 09:33:50 am

Hi Faye,
Thanks for your question. I'm happy to hear that the monarch caterpillars are feeding on your milkweed. The best thing to do is to plant MORE milkweed because this is the only host plant they feed on. They have evolved with the milkweed plant for several reasons. To learn more about this relationship please read more here: https://www.saveourmonarchs.org/why-milkweed.html

Kathy Addison

4/25/2020 08:10:08 am

Does any type of milkweed have stickers on the leaves

PATRICIA LAMMERSFELD

5/19/2020 04:37:26 pm

I used to find milkweed along the railroad tracks in suburban Chicago. Now I live in South FL. Where can I find milkweed plants for my yard?

Mike Martin

5/29/2020 07:56:49 pm

Clarification:
Butterfly Weed, NOT Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
FYI. . .MRM

Chelse

6/1/2020 10:48:13 am

When should I be looking for monarch eggs under the leaves in East Tennessee?

Scott Stephens

6/8/2020 06:34:43 pm

Very nice! Thank you for photo's and explanations. Great info!

Carol Walker

6/19/2020 03:07:42 pm

How do I submit a pic of my “milkweed”?

Jenny link

6/19/2020 03:58:28 pm

I think the only way here is to first upload your image to a host. Google free image hosts. Personally I have my own site I can use but if you don't you need to find a place to host images, then all you do is post the link here.

Hope this helps some.

Carol

7/5/2020 08:39:24 pm

I'm writing from NZ but while living in Missouri I drew what I think is a milkweed? It was 3' tall/fluffy thistledown type seeds bursting from the gorgeous 'cradle' split. BUT had thin ribbonlike leaves drooping and curling around the strong upright stalk. SO different from the photo 'A speciosa' in the saveourmonarchs.org site. My drawing is detailed and framed in pride of place as a memory of my years in USA flora drawings. It needs a name? Thanks. Carol

7/6/2020 08:33:36 am

Can you post a link to a photo of your drawing? I don't see it if you already did.
This page will give you a list of the Milkweeds that grow wild in Missouri, if you enter "Asclepias" at the top and check the box for Missouri. Some of them probably have narrow leaves:
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/checklist.html

Paulette Hunter

7/28/2020 06:04:27 pm

Hi there, I live in Washago Ontario Canada. My coworker gave me 4 pods of milkweed native to my area she harvested from plants in her yard nearby. I planted them last fall with a bit of fresh earth next to the river in front of my home. Well I have at least 20 plants growing some with a cluster of flowers some with none. I realize this is only their first year so may not get any activity. I'm really not sure yet which milk weeds I have but I am trying to research that by identifying them on the net. Funny though I have other plants nearby that have been there (since my husband stopped mowing them down)that may also are br another species of Milkweed. We have a lot of geese here so we decided to let it all grow to deter them from coming up a pooping everywhere. I was just wondering if I could send you some pictures of what I have growing so you could confirm what and if it's milkweed
Thank you Paulette

7/28/2020 06:47:44 pm

Try pasting "which milkweed plants do monarchs breed on" into google, turn on images, and start looking. TONS of images there. Surely you can match what you have to images already online.

Also look on the underside of the leaves. Monarch eggs are tiny, yellow little dots, and will be widely scattered. Also watch for tiny caterpillars. They can be really small until they molt a few times.
Or just watch for chewed leaves, then look for caterpillars. If you have the right kind, you should see some activity soon. I'm in southern Michigan so not too far off from you, and I'm finding very small caterpillars now.

Dan Findrick

10/1/2020 11:09:00 am

I just noticed a bunch of small orangish pod looking things on the stem of my milkweed. They are about the size of a freckle. Any idea what they might be? Probably about 25-50 of them.

Greta link

10/1/2020 01:27:33 pm

Could they be orange aphids, as in the first photo on the following webpage?
https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/annualperennial/milkweed/

10/1/2020 02:39:26 pm

Monarch eggs are yellow and never all laid in the same spot. Find those on the undersides of leaves, single eggs scattered here and there.
Recently I had a whole batch of orangish eggs on the stem right on top where new leaves form. Posted that on some bug forum with a photo and sure enough, as someone already mentioned, aphid eggs. That plant got an immediate trim and the infested bit was tossed into my back yard firepit. (burning of course.)

James

10/26/2020 08:30:31 am

I got a lot of large milkweed pods from down the road at a city garden, so I assume they're not tropical, but they had very few leaves left on them already in the fall. The pods are shown here (can for size): https://ibb.co/4T23JD8

Is there a chance they're not good for monarchs or can I plant them in my yard for yext year? These are up in Michigan.

11/13/2020 11:14:04 am

Well, since no-one else has answered you yet, I'll chime in. It looks a lot like Aclepias syriaca to me, but there are 10 other species native to Michigan, and I don't know what they look like. To see the list, go to this page, type in "asclepias" at the top, click the checkbox next to Michigan, then click Display Results:
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/checklist.html

Noreen link

6/19/2021 12:36:01 pm

I ordered a bunch of seeds for the Monarch Butterfly and am in the process of growing the seeds. I have leaves now, but they don't have the veins that I see in the milkweed seeds I see online. My leaves are young yet, so with they get veiny?
Help, I have trying to grow them for 3 months now.
Noreen

11/13/2020 12:29:29 pm

Very hard to tell from just seeds alone. And yes, they do lose most leaves by fall. (Mine started to look sad by end of Aug. I'm in MI too.)

The kind you want has broad leaves, and a milky white to almost pinkish flower.
here. https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/asclepias-syriaca-31.jpg

Can't hurt to plant what you have but if it's the wrong kind, seems a waste. Try examining those plants next summer. Sept. ish. Look closely on the underside of leaves. Monarch eggs are yellowish, and almost always laid one in a spot. Not in batches. Baby caterpillars are very tiny but once you spot a few, you will get good at it. (Easy way is look on top of lower leaves for tell tail caterpillar poop.)THEN you know you found the right plant. Wait for that plant to go to seed and grab some.
Mind you, once I got good at this, I noticed there is no shortage of milkweed in rural Michigan. Stuff is growing everywhere here. I'm in the SW corner, very rural but between just about any farm field and the road will be a weedy strip of mostly ignored land, and weeds of all kind can be found there. Still... it's fun to have a few right in your yard to observe.

10/30/2020 08:14:59 pm

Well, since no-one else has answered you yet, I'll chime in. It looks a lot like Aclepias syriaca to me, but there are 10 other species native to Michigan, and I don't know what they llook like. If you go to this page, type in "asclepias" and click next to michigan, you'll see the list:
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/checklist.html

bev

11/11/2020 01:01:44 pm

i have collected dried exploding pods but don’t know what variety. is there a way to distinguish between varieties when all the leaves have fallen?

Johnny link

1/6/2021 09:36:12 am

Great post thank you

Bee ? Pollard

4/23/2021 08:57:20 pm

For several years I planted lots of milkweed and raised monarchs. I stopped counting how man. Lots of monarchs in my yard, But one summer I noticed that the flower heads were nodding. On the stem of the plant were scars where this weevil would place his seeds. Then the flower dropped. The weevil, by cutting around the flower head had released it white liquid that would pour down the stem and feed the larva. I watched for the weevil, but no luck. It’s a fast mover and when you reach
Out for the stem it quickly drops down to the soil where it lives. Sadly about 3 years ago I pulled up all the plants. I have one small patch that I left unplanted for 3 years thinking it would look else where but it was still there. I planed 2 small plants in that spot and they became victims of the Monarch Weevil. It’s small, black and looking thru a lens you can see it has cross hatches on its back. The body is very hard. This year I’m going to dig out the soil to see if I can get rid of them that way. Thank you for reading this dissertation. I didn’t plan to make it this long. But I hoped I might be able to help someone with the same problem. 🐝 Bee

Kevin M Dodge

7/24/2021 05:10:21 pm

I live in coastal Maine(pretty much a bog by the sea) so i've had the best luck growing Swamp Milkweed from seeds as they grow 5 feet tall(2nd yr) & produce flowers for weeks.my 8 X 8 patch is a constant flurry of Monarchs,bees,Friterlary butterflys; they ignore the 2 orange Butterfly bushes & Joe Pye weeds up by the house.yes, ~size~ does matter ha ha!

JM Schulte

7/29/2021 11:14:13 pm

Found this on a butterfly blog, and thought it might answer the queries about why Monarchs seem to prefer Common Milkweed over Swamp Milkweed, etc. See what you think:

Milkweed toxins are called cardiac glycosides and the levels are higher and lower in different milkweeds. Monarch female butterflies if given a choice like to choose milkweeds with higher levels of these glycosides/milkweed sap to protect their baby caterpillars.
Butterfly weed/ tuberosa, Cardenolide (mg/g) levels 0.004170147
Narrowleaf Milkweed/fascicularis 0.018372852
Whorled Milkweed/verticillata 0.021662409
Purple Milkweed/purpurascens 0.04790275
Swamp Milkweed/incarnata 0.051820588
Showy Milkweed/speciosa 0.192794394
Common Milkweed/syriaca 0.370894586
Woollypod Milkweed/eriocarpa 0.695109063
Tropical Milkweed/curassavica 0.867703059
Sullivant’s Milkweed/sullivantii 1.048871333
Desert Milkweed/erosa 1.448095625
Balloon plant Hairy Balls/physocarpa 3.005173722
Above is a list of the cardenolides in milkweed sap. Study was done by Professor Jaap de Roode and Professor Mark Hunter.

Julie

9/21/2021 10:34:02 am

I have grown a milkweed that grew orange flowers and it secrets milky white sap....What is that one called? And Can I use it for herbal remedies?

Margurite Grace

10/8/2021 01:19:05 pm

Marvelous help. Garden in Pa. Common milkweed mainly. Was crossing the state's with a grandchild to Arkansas in Tennessee at a rest/welcome center. I'm like looks like but looks nothing like. 😆 I drive my family bonkers with let me get my lens. But it is seeding at this point so i had no clue to color or flower type. I should have guess I was right due to the bee and butterflys at work sign. Deetadee. Thank you for your wonderful work

baby link

11/19/2021 06:30:51 am

yeah. That is impressive article because they have shown us exact point.

12/12/2021 02:24:31 am

Years ago, when I was a young boy about 8 yrs old, I found a Caterpillar and put it into a glass jar with some leaves and twigs. I punched some holes in the lid, and put it on the furnace. There was soon a cocoon in the jar. I left it alone for the entire winter, and in the springtime I noticed there was a beautiful Monarch Butterfly inside the jar. I set it free outside, and it must have flown around my house for about 3 days, before it finally went somewhere else. I know, there was a milkweed plant next to my house at that time, so it was probably drawn to it.

About the same time, I had a wart on my elbow, and my grandma told me, if I put milkweed juice on my wart, it would go away in about 2 weeks. So I did as she said, and it actually worked.

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12/13/2021 09:33:34 pm

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Heidi Rothenhaus

4/2/2022 01:20:37 pm

Have you considered providing a seedling identifier that includes photos of roots? I'm growing seedlings from plants in my yard (incarnata ice ballet and pink, tuberosa, and tropical) and have lost confidence that my labeling is correct. I'm not sure, but it seems tuberosa stems don't become fuzzy until the plant is several inches tall.

Jeremy Cantor link

6/4/2022 02:48:59 pm

Is there a milkweed species with tiny aster-shaped, or maybe dandelion-shaped flowers? I didn't think there was, but there are many coming up where I planted several varieties of milkweed.

Deva link

6/12/2022 01:38:21 am

Very interesting and insightful review

Kay

7/9/2022 07:49:06 am

The bees on my common milkweed in Michigan are not letting the monarchs anywhere near it. Anyone see this happening?

Debbie Wessel link

7/21/2022 10:23:38 pm

The information in the article identifying Milkweed is wonderful I had no idea. My yard has huge variety of many perennials that draw bees, all kinds of birds butterflies etc but have noticed the monarches have thinned. Where do I get milkweed in sw Ohio

Sweta Parikh link

8/8/2022 08:08:24 am

Nice article! Thanks for sharing this informative post. Keep posting!

Meipo Martin

8/31/2022 10:59:40 am

To help readers identify milkweeds for seed pod collection purpose, wouldn’t it be great if you could provide more info, or even better, photos of the respective seed pods? By the time the seed pods are here, there is no flower or even leaves for us to refer to for identification .

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4/6/2023 09:57:53 am

I have also a hard time identifying milkweed plants. Thanks for this post, it will be easier now.

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Sharon

5/20/2023 11:36:18 am

I live in western Colorado. Can you tell me what a young, just sprouting, milkweed plant looks like?? I don’t want to disturb the seeds I planted last yr. I can identify a full grown plant. Thanks.

Jake link

7/1/2023 08:03:45 pm

So I am in Illinois. Planted 1 milkweed last year late. Never bloomed. 5 came up this year and still haven't bloomed. How do I know which 1, when it blooms, and if monarchs will be attracted to it. I wish I can have hundreds along my back fence and back yard. Learned alot from my kiddo who loves monarchs.

7/2/2023 08:12:15 am

Hi Jake, (former Illinois resident here, transplanted to Mi decades ago.)
If you only planted it last year give it some time. And it might not be bloom time until late summer. (Depends on species but none of it by me is blooming yet.)
Back when I first found this, I had a batch of milkweed spring up right in the middle of my yard. Not sure what it was and that's when I found this blog. It was, I actually found monarchs on it, harvested a few and grew them in a container till they were ready to fly. That was fun. THEN ha, now that I can recognize it, that plant grows all over the place out here. (Very rural area I'm at now.) I mowed down the batch smack in the middle of my yard since the stuff grows wild all along our road.
The milkweed I have doesn’t flower till later in summer.

If you KNOW you planted milkweed seed, I’d say give it another year before you toss in the towel. Some perennial plants sometimes take a few years before you see flowers.

Since Monarchs eat the leaves, I don’t think having flowers or not would stop them from coming. I was picking off caterpillars long before I saw flowers. Be patient.