Butterfly gardening
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Butterfly gardening is a way to create, improve, and maintain habitat for lepidopterans including butterflies, skippers, and moths. Butterflies have four distinct life stages—egg, larva, chrysalis, an
A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) feeding on butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Monarch populations have been declining in abundance due to loss of habitat in the United States and deforestation at overwintering grounds in Mexico.
A monarch waystation near the town of Berwyn Heights in Prince George's County, Maryland (June 2017)
A coral hairstreak (Satyrium titus) resting on a clump of grass. The larvae will feed upon species in the family Rosaceae, including cherry (Prunus serotina)
Group of Lysandra coridon puddling
Asclepias incarnata
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Asclepias incarnata, the swamp milkweed, rose milkweed, rose milkflower, swamp silkweed, or white Indian hemp, is a herbaceous perennial plant species native to North America. It grows in damp through
Butterfly gardening
…therefore be less suitable for use in butterfly gardens and monarch waystations than are other milkweed species. Breeding monarchs prefer to lay eggs on swamp milkweed (A. incarnata). A. incarnata is therefore often planted in butterfly gardens and monarch waystations to help sustain the butterfly's populations. However, A. incarnata…
Swamp milkweed monarch
With monarch butterfly larva
Asclepias incarnata foliage
With Sphex ichneumoneus