Get MORE Butterflies & Pollinators In Your Garden!
video description
1) Most are sprayed with pesticides
2) Most are likely selling Asclepias curassavica (Tropical or Scarlet Milkweed. It is native to Mexico and the Caribbean. It is the plant that Monarchs eat when they migrate way south. It does not die back in winter like native milkweed does, and it is highly invasive, and it can mess up the reproductive cycle of Monarchs and cause OE. It does more harm than good.
There's a lot of misinformation on the web about this, but ask most ecologists and they will tell you the harm it can do for Monarch populations.
When it comes to host plants, plant native. Here in the Southeast, Asclepias incarnata, perennis, and tuberosa are all good choices. If they aren't readily available, wait it out. Get seeds from someone who does have it in their yard. I'm always giving away free milkweed seeds to neighbors and friends.
That's not to say you only have to plant native. In my area, pentas are a fantastic choice for pollinators. Just be sure to source your plants from a reputable nursery that does not use pesticides or fungicides. Milkweed will always be assaulted by aphids, but ladybugs will inevitably move in an wipe them out. They'll come back and the cycle continues.
Date: 2024-02-23
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Comments and reviews: 19
ann7318
I love flowers such as Echinacea, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, morning glories, roses, Dame's rockets, lilacs, red flowering quince, horse mint, Walker's low catmint, peppermint, prunella vulgaris aka heal all, oregano, sedums, rosemary, lavender fruit trees, etc. The annuals here are actually re-seeding annuals, and come back on their own. Some are shrubs or trees. I have a lot more things growing, but many of these seeds can be planted in fall or winter here in zone 6b southern Missouri. I am making my gardens bigger too. I planted catnip this year also. And I have garden sage, red sage/salvia, and blue sages/salvias. I have planted milkweed, but so far I don't know if it will grow or not. : ( Lots of things that I planted last year did not grow. Bummer. We saw a honeybee last week, but there were no flowers blooming that day. Today some of my daffodils opened up, and the red flowering quince are full of buds.
I am STILL trying to get Hollyhocks to grow. Occasionally they grow for me, but mostly not. : (
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I love flowers such as Echinacea, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, morning glories, roses, Dame's rockets, lilacs, red flowering quince, horse mint, Walker's low catmint, peppermint, prunella vulgaris aka heal all, oregano, sedums, rosemary, lavender fruit trees, etc. The annuals here are actually re-seeding annuals, and come back on their own. Some are shrubs or trees. I have a lot more things growing, but many of these seeds can be planted in fall or winter here in zone 6b southern Missouri. I am making my gardens bigger too. I planted catnip this year also. And I have garden sage, red sage/salvia, and blue sages/salvias. I have planted milkweed, but so far I don't know if it will grow or not. : ( Lots of things that I planted last year did not grow. Bummer. We saw a honeybee last week, but there were no flowers blooming that day. Today some of my daffodils opened up, and the red flowering quince are full of buds.
I am STILL trying to get Hollyhocks to grow. Occasionally they grow for me, but mostly not. : (
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anissapearson7454
Love this video! I started gardening for pollinators many years back, and I can definitely vouch for tithonia here in North Florida. It lasts long and attracts butterflies and bees like crazy! I also like sunflowers, zinnias, and salvias--they're all-stars in my garden every year! Also grow milkweed! Please grow milkweed! There's so many cool kinds and there's likely a couple native to your area (there's 22 native to FL alone, I believe) and there's so many lovely colors and growth habits and I just love seeing fat little caterpillars on my plants throughout the year. Native milkweed 10/10 would recommend! (My favorite is Swamp Milkweed, its a lovely pink and smells like vanilla but my soil's so sandy it has a hard time)
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Love this video! I started gardening for pollinators many years back, and I can definitely vouch for tithonia here in North Florida. It lasts long and attracts butterflies and bees like crazy! I also like sunflowers, zinnias, and salvias--they're all-stars in my garden every year! Also grow milkweed! Please grow milkweed! There's so many cool kinds and there's likely a couple native to your area (there's 22 native to FL alone, I believe) and there's so many lovely colors and growth habits and I just love seeing fat little caterpillars on my plants throughout the year. Native milkweed 10/10 would recommend! (My favorite is Swamp Milkweed, its a lovely pink and smells like vanilla but my soil's so sandy it has a hard time)
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javiersavala2385
4: 59 I love that your guys are showing off native plants, but this red milkweed species is a harmful no! This is tropical milkweed. As the name implies it's from tropical parts of Mexico and Central America. Due to its tropical origin, it doesn't die off like the native species do, and stick around year-round (unless you get snow. Due to this fact, it has become a harmful transmitter of a disease that when the infected leaves are eaten by caterpillars, and when they emerge their wings won't form properly (and some starve due to lack of mobility) those who survive can infect new plants when they lay their eggs. And the cycle continues.
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4: 59 I love that your guys are showing off native plants, but this red milkweed species is a harmful no! This is tropical milkweed. As the name implies it's from tropical parts of Mexico and Central America. Due to its tropical origin, it doesn't die off like the native species do, and stick around year-round (unless you get snow. Due to this fact, it has become a harmful transmitter of a disease that when the infected leaves are eaten by caterpillars, and when they emerge their wings won't form properly (and some starve due to lack of mobility) those who survive can infect new plants when they lay their eggs. And the cycle continues.
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lineaostri
I really enjoyed this video. I bought Mexican sunflower seeds 4 years ago and haven't needed to buy any since! They reseed so easily. In the fall, I let my garden go wild so it's transformed into a sea of Mexican sunflowers and native plants until first frost. It's always a beautiful sight to see. Someone mentioned to me that Mexican sunflowers are considered the comfrey of the South, so when our first frost came, I pulled a bunch of them and put them in a giant bucket and filled it with water. I plan to use the water to fertilize my plants this spring.
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I really enjoyed this video. I bought Mexican sunflower seeds 4 years ago and haven't needed to buy any since! They reseed so easily. In the fall, I let my garden go wild so it's transformed into a sea of Mexican sunflowers and native plants until first frost. It's always a beautiful sight to see. Someone mentioned to me that Mexican sunflowers are considered the comfrey of the South, so when our first frost came, I pulled a bunch of them and put them in a giant bucket and filled it with water. I plan to use the water to fertilize my plants this spring.
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stevef. 8708
I’m really torn on butterflies as pollinators in my garden. They lay massive numbers of eggs and their larvae wreak havoc on my citrus trees! The past couple of years I’ve tried using neem and simply flicking off caterpillars from the leaves but the leaves really get stripped bare! I’m thinking of using an insecticide for this summer. I can’t stand to watch my beloved lemon and Mikan trees take such abuse.
I wonder if milkweed could serve as sacrificial plants instead of my citrus trees.
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I’m really torn on butterflies as pollinators in my garden. They lay massive numbers of eggs and their larvae wreak havoc on my citrus trees! The past couple of years I’ve tried using neem and simply flicking off caterpillars from the leaves but the leaves really get stripped bare! I’m thinking of using an insecticide for this summer. I can’t stand to watch my beloved lemon and Mikan trees take such abuse.
I wonder if milkweed could serve as sacrificial plants instead of my citrus trees.
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ARSmith76
I already have several pollinator-friendly plants in my flower beds here in Ohio, including milkweed, monarda, false indigo and coneflowers, but this spring I'm hoping to turn a corner of my front yard into a pocket prairie. I got some free seeds from a butterfly sanctuary and will be starting them soon. These include tall ironweed, rose pink gentian, wild senna, cardinal flower and more coneflowers. I'm also hoping to get some little blue stem and sideoats grama grasses.
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I already have several pollinator-friendly plants in my flower beds here in Ohio, including milkweed, monarda, false indigo and coneflowers, but this spring I'm hoping to turn a corner of my front yard into a pocket prairie. I got some free seeds from a butterfly sanctuary and will be starting them soon. These include tall ironweed, rose pink gentian, wild senna, cardinal flower and more coneflowers. I'm also hoping to get some little blue stem and sideoats grama grasses.
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zannaB60
Where I live here in central Texas, growing some flowers is tough. But I bought a Peskey Pinker Butterfly bush last fall and planted it. The bush was 4 inches tall and is now 12 inches tall! So, if I can keep this perennial alive, it should greatly help! Summer will be the test. Our summer temps can hover around 110 degrees for two to three months. Hence the reason I want to move to North Carolina.
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Where I live here in central Texas, growing some flowers is tough. But I bought a Peskey Pinker Butterfly bush last fall and planted it. The bush was 4 inches tall and is now 12 inches tall! So, if I can keep this perennial alive, it should greatly help! Summer will be the test. Our summer temps can hover around 110 degrees for two to three months. Hence the reason I want to move to North Carolina.
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GoingGreenMom
Ive never really had issues with a lack of pollinators. I've had more issues with unwanted bugs eating all the things. Planted some bronze leaf fennel last year and got bracconid wasps for the first time. I also have preying mantises Lol, My flower I'm trying this year is marigolds, but found some pelleted impatiens seed too, so I guess those will definitely be a thing this year too.
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Ive never really had issues with a lack of pollinators. I've had more issues with unwanted bugs eating all the things. Planted some bronze leaf fennel last year and got bracconid wasps for the first time. I also have preying mantises Lol, My flower I'm trying this year is marigolds, but found some pelleted impatiens seed too, so I guess those will definitely be a thing this year too.
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kypie8
From my experience, Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) is a huge butterfly magnet & Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) attracts a ton of bees & hummingbirds! Other pollinator favorites:
White Yarrow, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Cosmos, Marigolds, Calendula, Bachelors Buttons, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower, Coreopsis, Lavender, Mint, Oregano most flowering herbs are GREAT for pollinators!
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From my experience, Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) is a huge butterfly magnet & Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) attracts a ton of bees & hummingbirds! Other pollinator favorites:
White Yarrow, Sunflowers, Zinnias, Cosmos, Marigolds, Calendula, Bachelors Buttons, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower, Coreopsis, Lavender, Mint, Oregano most flowering herbs are GREAT for pollinators!
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jennhoff03
Meg's voice is like music! I loved this video. I do want to add that you have to be careful selecting milkweed, as tropical milkweed is commonly sold and is really bad for monarchs. The national society says it's worse than not planting any milkweed. So milkweed can be great, but make sure you get the right kind.
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Meg's voice is like music! I loved this video. I do want to add that you have to be careful selecting milkweed, as tropical milkweed is commonly sold and is really bad for monarchs. The national society says it's worse than not planting any milkweed. So milkweed can be great, but make sure you get the right kind.
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stephenlonon4605
Hi Native Gardeners! There is an organization called Wild Ones with chapters across the US. They specialize in helping suburban/urban homeowners use region natives for landscaping. They’ll even come to your home and have experts come and talk about how to optimize everything! Super helpful for the beginner!
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Hi Native Gardeners! There is an organization called Wild Ones with chapters across the US. They specialize in helping suburban/urban homeowners use region natives for landscaping. They’ll even come to your home and have experts come and talk about how to optimize everything! Super helpful for the beginner!
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hobo_fire
For anyone looking to raise mason bees and leafcutter bees, make sure the reeds come out of the bee house. If they don't, I highly recommend looking into houses where the reeds can be removed and opened for cleaning/harvesting the bees. Crown Bees has resources on why you should do this as well as a ton more info.
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For anyone looking to raise mason bees and leafcutter bees, make sure the reeds come out of the bee house. If they don't, I highly recommend looking into houses where the reeds can be removed and opened for cleaning/harvesting the bees. Crown Bees has resources on why you should do this as well as a ton more info.
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epic_gardening
I put an inexpensive metal arbor over my front gate with Maypop planted on it-she's right! The butterflies loved it. There were butterflies swarming around my gate all summer last year. Can't wait to see them again this year. Going to try some of her other suggestions for spring
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I put an inexpensive metal arbor over my front gate with Maypop planted on it-she's right! The butterflies loved it. There were butterflies swarming around my gate all summer last year. Can't wait to see them again this year. Going to try some of her other suggestions for spring
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ramonajolley1966
Oh my word! I live in Raeford, NC. Where are you located I would love to host . I don't know how, but I would love to learn. Every year, I add more to my garden. I have the same bird bath, but mine is old. Thank you so much! This was very interesting!
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Oh my word! I live in Raeford, NC. Where are you located I would love to host . I don't know how, but I would love to learn. Every year, I add more to my garden. I have the same bird bath, but mine is old. Thank you so much! This was very interesting!
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deanwinchester6654
My front yard has tons of flowers but my backyard where i grow my veggies doesn't have any flowers. Took some black eyed susans head and going to plant them in back. Kept them up for a bit during the winter for any birds but nothing came around. Zone 5b.
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My front yard has tons of flowers but my backyard where i grow my veggies doesn't have any flowers. Took some black eyed susans head and going to plant them in back. Kept them up for a bit during the winter for any birds but nothing came around. Zone 5b.
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earthisflat
I just took out one of my native pollinator plants I didn't realize how aggressive it was gonna grow and it ended up taking up most of bed and shading out some of my plants, definitely gonna replace it with a native pollinator plant that's not as aggressive
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I just took out one of my native pollinator plants I didn't realize how aggressive it was gonna grow and it ended up taking up most of bed and shading out some of my plants, definitely gonna replace it with a native pollinator plant that's not as aggressive
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lisakruger5289
I'm just North of Atlanta and Anise Hyssop and Zinnias are the pollinators favorites in my garden. I am winter sowing mexican sunflower this year to add to my mix. I have raised monarchs in the past and you are right, it's an incredible experience!
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I'm just North of Atlanta and Anise Hyssop and Zinnias are the pollinators favorites in my garden. I am winter sowing mexican sunflower this year to add to my mix. I have raised monarchs in the past and you are right, it's an incredible experience!
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brittwalton77
Quick note for people interested in monarchs/milkweed. Make sure you get a milkweed native to your area (there are tons of different milkweed species and if you don’t get native milkweed it can actually be counter productive for helping monarchs)
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Quick note for people interested in monarchs/milkweed. Make sure you get a milkweed native to your area (there are tons of different milkweed species and if you don’t get native milkweed it can actually be counter productive for helping monarchs)
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thall3827
I didn't see any butterflies like talking about this past year, but my Mexican sunflower was COVERED in bees (as was my oregano. They were so cute! Hoping the butterflies find my restaurant this year! Maybe the bees will give me a good review.
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I didn't see any butterflies like talking about this past year, but my Mexican sunflower was COVERED in bees (as was my oregano. They were so cute! Hoping the butterflies find my restaurant this year! Maybe the bees will give me a good review.
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