To attract monarch butterflies, plant both milkweed for caterpillars and nectar flowers for adult butterflies. The right species depend on your location: the nine plants below come from a Florida guide and are not a universal North American planting list. For recommendations suited to your area, use the Xerces Plants for Monarchs tool or a regional guide.
What plants attract monarch butterflies?
Monarchs need two kinds of plants. Milkweeds are the only plants monarch caterpillars can eat, making them essential host plants. Adult monarchs drink nectar from milkweed and other flowers. A useful planting combines host plants with nectar sources that bloom across the growing season. Monarch Joint Venture’s planting FAQ recommends a variety of native milkweeds and nectar plants.
Plant selection is regional: native range, local climate, sunlight and moisture all affect whether a species is a good fit. The list below is drawn from the Xerces Society’s Florida guide, which includes plants documented as monarch food sources, available commercially, and considered hardy for Florida. Check local guidance before planting these species elsewhere.
Nine Florida plants for monarchs
| Plant | Monarch role | Bloom period in the Florida guide |
|---|---|---|
| Aquatic milkweed (Asclepias perennis) | Host plant | Spring to fall |
| Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) | Host plant | Spring to fall |
| Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) | Nectar plant | Spring to fall |
| Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) | Nectar plant | Spring to fall |
| Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata) | Nectar plant | Spring to summer |
| Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata) | Nectar plant | Spring to winter |
| Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) | Nectar plant | Summer to fall |
| Spiked blazing star (Liatris spicata) | Nectar plant | Summer to fall |
| Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) | Host plant | Summer to fall |
Names, monarch roles and bloom periods in this table are from the Xerces Florida monarch nectar plant guide. Use bloom timing as a planning guide, not a guarantee: conditions and flowering can vary by site.
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How to choose plants for your yard
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Favor native plants suited to your region and site rather than choosing from a national list by name alone. Xerces publishes regional guides and notes that not every listed species suits every location. Its Plants for Monarchs tool can use your location to suggest native host and nectar plants, filter options by conditions such as sun exposure, and help build a supplier list.
Match plants to sunlight and moisture
Check the site conditions a plant needs before buying it. Xerces’ Florida guidance recommends open, sunny planting areas and groups of plants; for other regions, rely on local planting guidance and the requirements of each species.
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Plan for flowers through the season
Choose a mix with overlapping or sequential bloom periods so nectar is available over a longer part of the growing season. Include milkweed for caterpillars as well as nectar plants for adult butterflies; nectar flowers alone do not provide the caterpillar’s food plant.
Seeds or plugs: which should you buy?
Seeds are often the more economical way to establish plants, while nursery plugs can establish and mature more quickly, according to Monarch Joint Venture’s planting FAQ. Many milkweed species need cold treatment before germination. Check the directions for the species and seed source you choose; some seeds may need preparation before sowing. The FAQ describes sowing directly outdoors or starting seeds indoors.
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Planting and pesticide cautions
For Florida plantings, the Xerces guide recommends native species. It cautions that tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) may persist year-round in mild climates, enabling winter breeding rather than the seasonal dormancy known as diapause, and may be associated with higher levels of the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. Consult regional guidance before choosing milkweed, especially in mild-winter areas.
Insecticides can harm monarchs and other pollinators. Ask a nursery whether its plants have received systemic insecticide treatments, and avoid applying pesticides in or near monarch habitat. When possible, buy locally appropriate native plants from suppliers who can explain how the plants were grown.
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