The iconic monarch butterfly is native to most of North America. It is the only butterfly to make a two-way migration, like birds, spanning thousands of miles and involving multiple generations over the course of a year. 

In the northeast, monarchs begin to migrate south in early September when the nights are cooler. Many will make it to Florida or Mexico where they overwinter in fir trees. In February and March the overwintering monarchs begin their journey north, laying eggs on milkweed as they go. These eggs hatch into caterpillars that eat the milkweed, its exclusive host food. The milkweed sap absorbed into the caterpillar gives off a bitter taste, repelling predators.

Because monarchs rely exclusively on milkweed for their host plant (what they live on as an egg and then off of as a caterpillar) it's crucial that these resources are available in the spring. Make sure the milkweeds you select are native, not nonnative tropical plants. Over the past couple of years hot, dry conditions in the U.S. and Canada have dramatically reduced food supply for monarchs. They are now considered a species threatened with extinction.

Plant Native Milkweed

A garden with just 10 milkweed plants and a mix of spring-to-fall blooming nectar flowers can provide life-saving resources. Planting wildflowers along roadsides, in community spaces, or in containers on patios helps rebuild the migratory corridor that monarchs desperately need.

Photo: Adult monarch butterfly enjoying Mexican sunflower nectar