Top 10 Types of Milkweed to Support Monarch Butterflies

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Requires full sun. It's a taller summer bloomer for open spaces that shines with globes of pink-purple stars on 3- to 5-foot tall plants from June through August. Its range covers 39 states.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Prefers shade and moist soil. It features striking magenta and white flower balls that bloom from summer through fall. This adaptable plant, growing in 43 states, ranges from 2 to 5 feet

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Thrives in sunny, well-drained gardens. With an even broader range of 41 states, its flat-topped clusters glow in warm golds and oranges from May through September. Compact at 1 to 2 feet tall

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Prefers dry, sunny conditions. Its fine-textured needle-like leaves and pale cream summer flowers lend a refined air to this 2-foot by 2-foot prairie plant. It's one of the first types of milkweed to emerge

Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)

Prefers partial sun. Averaging 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, it requires consistent watering and loamy soil. Its rosy magenta blooms are distinct among milkweeds, making it a standout in any collection.

Sullivant s Milkweed/Prairie Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

Likes full sun. It looks like a bouquet of tiny pink columbines, growing 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide. It spreads more slowly than common milkweed but is just as lovely.

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Prefers dry, arid soils with good drainage. Reaching up to 3 feet tall, its star-shaped blooms are stunning, and it's very drought tolerant. It's an excellent choice for gardeners in the western and southwestern U.S.

Antelope Horn Milkweed/Spider Milkweed (Asclepias asperula)

Prefers sun and sandy or clay soil. Its Southwest native seed heads mimic horns, and the plant reaches 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. The floral show lasts from March to October, improving each year.

Short Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora)

Thrives in hot, dry conditions. Its pale green flowers resemble stylized allium and make it an eye-catching addition to gardens. It's ideal for sandy or gravelly soil, growing at 1 foot tall and wide.

Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)

Shade-tolerant, suitable for shadier gardens. Featuring drooping clusters of white or purple flowers on 3- to 5-foot-tall plants from May to August, it's an excellent choice for gardens with more shade than sun