Top 10 Types of Milkweed to Support Monarch Butterflies

Common Milkweed Common milkweed, a tall summer bloomer in 39 states, thrives in open spaces with full sun, but small gardeners should consider less aggressive types. Why we love it: Globes of pink-purple stars shine on 3- to 5-foot tall plants from June through August.

Swamp Milkweed Striking magenta and white flower balls bloom summer through fall and prefer shade and moist soil. Why we love it: Growing in 43 states, this adaptable 2- to 5-foot-tall plant is readily available. Also, swamp milkweed is not a romper.

Butterfly Weed Butterfly weed, a vibrant plant found in 41 states, blooms in warm golds and oranges, with its flat-topped clusters displaying their beauty from May to September. Why we love it: Well-behaved and compact at 1 to 2 feet tall, it’s easy to fit into any sunny, well-drained garden..

Whorled Milkweed This 2-foot by 2-foot prairie plant, with fine-textured needle-like leaves and pale cream summer flowers, prefers dry sunny conditions. Why we love it: One of the first types of milkweed to emerge, it sustains monarch butterflies who arrive early.

Purple Milkweed The plant, averaging 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, thrives in consistent watering, loamy soil, and partial sun, though it may take time to establish. Why we love it: That look-at-me rosy magenta is distinct among milkweeds and will be the jewel that sets off the rest of your collection.

Sullivant’s Milkweed/Prairie Milkweed This milkweed, resembling a pink columbine bouquet, thrives in full sun and moist soil, growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Why we love it: It spreads more slowly than common milkweed but is just as lovely.

Showy Milkweed The showy milkweed, reaching up to 3 feet tall, thrives in dry, arid soils with good drainage, making it an excellent choice for western and southwestern U.S. gardeners. Why we love it: The star-shaped blooms are stunning and it is very drought tolerant.

Antelope Horn Milkweed/Spider Milkweed This Southwest native stunner, similar to A. viridis, mimics horns' seed heads and grows up to 2 feet tall, preferring sun and sandy or clay soil. Why we love it: The floral show lasts from March to October, getting better each year.

Short Green Milkweed A. viridiflora, a type of milkweed, has palest green flowers resembling stylized alliums and thrives in sandy or gravelly soil in hot, dry conditions. Why we love it: Here’s another eye-catcher whose flowers reward close inspection—or sketching—and makes a nice edging plant at 1 foot tall and wide.

Poke Milkweed This plant features drooping clusters of white or purple flowers that float on 3- to 5-foot-tall plants from May to August. Why we love it: Poke milkweed is one of the most shade-tolerant types of milkweed, so give it a try if your gardens are more shady than sunny.
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