Plant Milkweed for Monarchs in Minnesota

Of the 17,500 species of butterfly in the world, the Monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable. They are interesting creatures because monarchs migrate from Canada and the United States to Mexico for the winter and back again in the spring.

Why do monarchs migrate?

Winter is too cold. A lot of us have said the same but when the temperatures drop to 32°F, they can die. At those temperatures their food sources die out so they head south.

How do they do it?

They are light-sensitive and follow the sun. They also have an internal magnetic compass, located in their antennae, tuned in to the Earth’s magnetic fields to keep them on track.

Are monarchs endangered?

Loss of habitat and climate change has resulted in a 90% decline in Monarch populations since the 1990s. The monarch is currently a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and its status will be reviewed each year until it is no longer a candidate. In December 2020, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service determined that "adding the monarch butterfly to the list of threatened and endangered species is warranted but precluded by work on higher-priority listing actions."

What can I do to help?

Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed and developing caterpillars feed on it. Without milkweed, Monarchs can't reproduce. Plant milkweed and monarch nectar plants. Don’t use pesticides. And support efforts to combat climate change.

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) are native in many regions, including Minnesota. Use the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder to search by zip code for native milkweed species.