Should You Grow Milkweed? What to Know Before Planting This Monarch Favorite

Milkweed (Asclepias) is a fascinating plant. It’s tall and eye-catching, and its large leaves and beautiful blossoms make it a standout in wild meadows as well as in your garden. It also plays a vitally important role in supporting monarch butterflies and other pollinators, which is why it’s widely recommended by gardeners and conservation groups alike.

Like any plant, however, milkweed has a few characteristics worth understanding before you add it to your landscape. Some species spread aggressively, while others may not be suitable for every garden setting. We asked experts what homeowners should know before planting milkweed—and why, for many gardeners, its benefits outweigh its drawbacks.

Benefits

For many people, the idea of helping monarch butterflies is enough to make them want to grow milkweed. However, these plants have many other benefits.

Important for Birds

Milkweed isn’t just a boon for butterflies—it’s beneficial for many other forms of wildlife as well. “Many species [of milkweed] are very fragrant, beautiful, long-lasting, and attract many insects that feed birds, especially baby birds,” author of How to Raise Monarch Butterflies. “They are perfect for adding beauty and life to your garden.”

Habitat for Monarchs

Milkweed is the host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Monarch females only lay their eggs on milkweed, and the striped caterpillars consume hearty helpings of milkweed leaves while on their way to adulthood. Unfortunately, the recent decline in milkweed plants has made it difficult for monarchs to find suitable sites for their larvae. Growing your own milkweed will assist these beautiful and beneficial pollinators.

Magnet for Bees

Milkweed can attract honeybees and bumblebees to your garden, where they will likely pollinate your vegetable and fruit crops as well.

Drawbacks

Milkweed certainly has its upsides, but there are a few downsides, too. Here’s what to know before planting it on your property.

Issues with Livestock

If you keep grazing animals on your property, you’ll want to carefully consider where milkweed is planted. “Milkweeds are toxic to grazing livestock,” says Ivonne Vazquez, nursery owner at Bas Rouge Farm & Forge. “If you have a homestead or farm with horses, cows, or sheep, then this will be an important consideration.”

As with many ornamental plants, milkweed should not be eaten, and gardeners should supervise children and pets around it.

Aggressive Spreading

Some types of milkweed spread aggressively, so consider whether you really have the room. “Established colonies of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) will take up large areas in your garden if the conditions are right,”. “The deep taproot and spreading habit will make it difficult to remove.”

Allergies

Individuals with sensitive skin or households with small children might also want to do some research. “Another [consideration] is the milky sap,” . “If you have a sensitivity to latex, you may have the same reaction when coming in contact with the sap.”

Choosing a Milkweed

There are about 140 species of milkweed. For example, if you have the space, you might not mind a species that spreads quickly—but if you don’t, then consider a milkweed with a less aggressive spreading habit. Pasternak notes that only milkweeds with rhizomes, like common milkweed, spread aggressively. She recommends swamp milkweed in particular, which has slender leaves and will grow in partial shade and most soil.

It’s highly recommended to choose a milkweed species that’s native to your area. In much of the eastern U.S., common milkweed is an important monarch host plant, but gardeners should generally choose milkweed species native to their local region. Native species are typically better adapted to local growing conditions and provide the greatest ecological benefits for pollinators and other wildlife. “The ones to avoid are the non-native varieties, like tropical milkweed, giant milkweed, and balloon milkweed,” says Pasternak.

How to Care for Milkweed

Fortunately, milkweed isn’t very high-maintenance and is relatively easy to care for. “Once established, there is very little seasonal care,” . “In my garden, common milkweed grows exceptionally well in dense clay soil in full sunlight. The taproot will feed the plant and provide added moisture from deep below the surface. The most time-consuming part of growing milkweed is gathering the ripened seed pods.”

Make sure to research and follow the growing instructions of your chosen type. “While many milkweeds can thrive under varied conditions, some, like butterfly weed, can be fussy,” says Pasternak, who has had difficulty with overwatering butterfly weed.

The Verdict

For most gardeners, milkweed is well worth growing. As the host plant for monarch butterflies, it plays a critical role in supporting one of North America’s most beloved pollinators, while also attracting bees, birds, and other beneficial wildlife.

The key is choosing the right species for your region and garden conditions. Some milkweeds spread aggressively, and all contain compounds that can be toxic if ingested, but these concerns are usually manageable with proper plant selection and placement.

By opting for a milkweed species native to your area, you can enjoy a low-maintenance plant that provides significant ecological benefits and helps support local pollinator populations.