The Webster Viridarium
Attracting Monarch Butterflies in Central and Western NY.
To attract monarch butterflies, you really need to provide a habitat that supports their entire life cycle, which requires both host plants for caterpillars and nectar sources for adults. This means planting native milkweed and a variety of colorful, nectar-rich flowers that bloom from spring through late fall.
Over the past decade, we’ve raised and released close to four hundred monarch butterflies. While Butterfly weed is a form of milkweed, we’ve never found monarch caterpillars to be particularly interested in it (Adult butterflies however love it!) Common milkweed is the most reliable host plant for monarch caterpillars.
Common milkweed can grow quite tall especially when grown in shady areas. Some people find the plant unattractive, but it makes a great backdrop for other pollinator friendly plants. Growing caterpillar host plants in close proximity to nectar plants, makes it more likely that monarch butterflies will lay eggs on your host plants.
Host and Nectar Plants for attracting Monarch Butterflies
Native plant varieties
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Caterpillar host
Sun: Full sun
Height: 3′-5′ | Width: 1′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. Withstands poor, dry, or rocky soils, but cannot tolerate wet or heavy clay soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Best choice as caterpillar host.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Caterpillar host*
Sun: Full sun
Height: 1′-2′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. Withstands poor, dry, or rocky soils, but cannot tolerate wet or heavy clay soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
*While in the milkweed family, caterpillars prefer other varieties.
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Caterpillar host
Sun: Full sun
Height: 3′-5′ | Width: 2′-3′
Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. Withstands poor, dry, rocky, or occasionally soggy soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Caterpillars thrive on swamp milkweed.
Whorled Milkweed
Asclepias verticillata
Caterpillar host*
Sun: Full to partial sun
Height: 1′-3′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. Withstands poor, dry, or rocky soils, but cannot tolerate wet or heavy clay soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
*While in the milkweed family, caterpillars prefer other varieties.
Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium fistulosum
Sun: Full to partial sun
Height: 4′-7′ | Width: 2′-4′
Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil. Withstands poor, dry, rocky, or occasionally soggy soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Sun: Full sun
Height: 2′-5′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry to moist average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Sun: Full sun
Height: 2′-3′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry to moist average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
New England Aster
Aster novae angliae
Sun: Full to partial sun
Height: 3′-5′ | Width: 2′-3′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry to moist average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Sun: Full – partial sun
Height: 2′-4′ | Width: 2′-3′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, average soil. Tolerates poor soil.
Cold stratification: No (30 days of stratification can improve germination rates.)
Deer resistant: Yes
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Sun: Full – partial sun
Height: 5′-12′ | Width: 4′-8′ (dwarf varieties are available)
Soil: Prefers moist to wet, slightly acidic, humus rich soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (60-90 days)
Deer resistant: Mostly
Field Thistle / Pasture Thistle
Cirsium discolor
Sun: Full to partial sun
Height: 2′-6′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Yarrow
Achillea Millefolium
Sun: Full – partial sun
Height: 2′-3′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Ironweed
Vernonia
Sun: Full – partial sun
Height: 2′-8′ | Width: 1′-6′ (dwarf varieties are available)
Soil: Prefers moist to wet, slightly acidic, humus rich soils.
Cold stratification: Yes (60-90 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago Speciosa
Sun: Full sun to light shade
Height: 3′-5′ | Width: 3′-4′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
False Sunflower
Heliopsis Helianthoides
Sun: Full sun
Height: 3′-6′ | Width: 3′-4′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, dry average soil.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Yes
Annuals
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Sun: Full sun
Height: 3′-10′ | Width: 1′-3′
Soil: Prefer well-drained soil, ideally sandy loam.
Cold stratification: Yes (30-60 days)
Deer resistant: Moderately
Cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Sun: Full sun
Height: 1′-6′ | Width: 1′-3′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, moist soil.
Cold stratification: No
Deer resistant: Yes
Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Sun: Full sun
Height: 1′-4′ | Width: 1′-2′
Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil.
Cold stratification: No
Deer resistant: Mostly
Caterpillar Predators
Monarch caterpillars are preyed upon by various invertebrates and vertebrates, with on average only about 10% surviving to adulthood. (One of the primary reasons we raise caterpillars in protected environments.)
Wasps and ants are among the most destructive, picking caterpillars off milkweed plants frequently.
Young Birds may eat them, but most birds quickly learn that the poisonous compounds the caterpillars ingest from milkweed make them an unpleasant meal.
Primary Predators of Monarch Caterpillars:
- Invertebrates (Insects/Spiders): Wasps (especially paper wasps and yellowjackets), ants, spiders, stink bugs, praying mantises, ladybugs, lacewings, and syrphid (hoverfly) larvae.
- Vertebrates (Birds/Mammals): Orioles, grosbeaks, robins, cardinals, sparrows, scrub jays, and mice.
- Other: Frogs, toads, lizards.
Adult Monarch Butterfly Predators
Adult monarch butterflies have few predators due to their toxicity, but they are still hunted by specialized birds, insects, and spiders. Major predators include black-headed grosbeaks and black-backed orioles (especially in Mexico), wasps, dragonflies, and spiders, which can overcome the monarch’s chemical defenses.
Key Predators of Adult Monarchs
- Birds: Specific birds have evolved immunity to the toxins monarchs ingest from milkweed. The black-headed grosbeak and black-backed oriole are significant predators during the overwintering season in Mexico. Other birds like cardinals, sparrows, and blue jays may also attack them.
- Insects: Large wasps, such as yellowjackets and paper wasps, are known to attack and consume adult butterflies.
- Other Invertebrates: Various spiders (such as orb weavers and crab spiders) and large insects like praying mantises will catch and eat adult monarchs.
Defense and Vulnerability
While adult monarchs are highly toxic to many vertebrates, some predators have developed mechanisms to deal with or tolerate these toxins. The vibrant coloration of the monarch acts as a warning to potential predators, but it is not infallible.
