Creating
Habitat

Milkweed-to-Monarch
There’s simply no overstating the importance of the Asclepias (aka Milkweed) in every stage of the Monarch butterfly’s life. For caterpillars, it’s their single source of food. Once grown and evolved into beautiful butterflies, the adults rely upon nectar from the plant’s flowers for sustenance. When it comes time to lay eggs and prolong the Monarchs’ multi-generational and international migration, only a Milkweed will serve as a suitable nesting spot.
As the Milkweed goes, the Monarch goes. And when the Milkweed dies off…the Monarch dies off, too.
That is the alarming situation we now face. As pesticide use, climate change, human development and other factors have reduced the health and prevalence of Milkweed, the dazzling butterfly’s population has also declined — dramatically and dangerously.
Establishing New Habitats
By establishing new habitats – even small ones – we can provide a waystation for eating, egg-laying, and resting during their long migrations. New habitat development can happen in places like public parks, schools, golf courses, corporate land, private parcels, and backyards! Native Monarchs is all about helping any person or entity create a pollinator and butterfly garden – with drought-tolerant plants (and milkweed, of course!) that will not only be beautiful, but potentially abundant with life.
We are seeking partnerships with nearly any and all entities interested in butterfly habitat conservation – from public to private to individual property owners. Native Monarchs not only guide you toward the right mix of plants to ensure success, but may also be able to design and install the habitats. Please take a look at our Butterfly & Pollinator Garden Planting Guide or contact us to discuss the area or parcel you’re considering for habitat and determine the next steps.
Even a 10’ x 10’ space, when properly panted, can serve as a safe place for a Monarch to land… and for conservation to take flight!

CAUTION
It’s important to cultivate milkweed that’s specific to your area, and to locate Monarch habitat away from areas that might be sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals. Non-native milkweeds flower at times that can disrupt Monarch migration and can also provide habitat for parasites (like OE, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) harmful to Monarch butterflies. Neonicotinoids (a common type of pesticide) can also harm Monarchs, even at very low levels, and remain present in plant tissues for a very long time.
To learn more about milkweed varieties in your area visit:
xerces.org/milkweed/milkweed-seed-finder
Help us track Monarchs and Milkweed across the west:
www.monarchmilkweedmapper.org
California Milkweed Species

Mexican Whorled Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Dry climates and plains.

Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Savannahs and prairies.

Desert Milkweed
Asclepias erosa
Desert regions.

California Milkweed
Asclepias californica
Grassy areas.

Heartleaf Milkweed
Asclepias cordifolia
Rocky slopes.

Woolly Milkweed
Asclepias vestita
Dry deserts and plains.

Woolly Pod Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
Clay soils and dry areas.

CA Narrowleaf Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis
Grassy areas.
If you’re planting for monarch conservation you want to:
- Ensure you have nectar-producing plants blooming during the spring, summer and fall
- Ensure tropical milkweed is cut back before October 31st
Use the map to the right to help determine what’s best in your region.
Regional Resources:
For plants and growing requirements (both from seed or seedlings) best suited to your region:
Butterfly and Pollinator Planting Guides
for Southern California:
Where to Buy Native Milkweed
The following Southern California nurseries specialize in native plants and expect to have at least narrow-leaf milkweed available by mid-April. This is not a complete list; to check for more native plant growers in your area, visit the California Native Plant Society’s CalScape website or their Where to Buy page and be sure to check in with your local retail nurseries to see whether and when they will be selling native milkweed and/or other flowering native plants.
Matilija Nursery
8225 Waters Road in Moorpark
Artemisia Nursery
5068 Valley Blvd. in El Sereno
Roger’s Gardens
2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar
Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery
4550 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena
Moosa Creek Nursery
Valley Center, near San Diego
Wholesale grower not open to the public but does take special orders online delivered to a partner retailer.
California Botanic Garden Grow Native Nursery
1500 N. College Ave. in Claremont
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Nursery
1212 Mission Canyon Road in Santa Barbara
Tree of Life Nursery
33201 Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano
Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery
10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley
Tropical
MILKWEED
If you have tropical milkweed, cut it back from October-February to within 6” of the ground (unless it dies back naturally on its own). Also remove any new plant growth at the base of the plant. If you live in a warm coastal area in the southern U.S. or California, cutting the milkweed back is especially important and it will be necessary to prune frequently (every 3 weeks) as it quickly re-grows.