Can I grow butterfly milkweed from seed?

Milkweed seed can be planted directly in soil, or started indoors. You can sow milkweed seeds by scattering them on the soil surface 1/4-1/2 inch apart, and then cover them with about 1/4 inch of additional soil.

Which milkweed is best for monarch butterflies?

Female monarchs will lay eggs on all nine milkweed species, but they prefer some over others. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (A. syriaca) averaged the highest number of eggs.

Where can I find milkweed seeds?

How to collect

  1. Split the pod at the seam and peel open. Use your fingers to pull the seeds and the silk out.
  2. Do not collect open pods with numerous milkweed bugs on the seeds or pods.
  3. It is always best to collect only a portion of the seeds in a particular location and leave some for natural regeneration.

When should I start butterfly milkweed seeds?

The best time to put in Milkweed plants is in early spring after the danger of frost has passed, while the best time to plant milkweed from seed is in late fall – this allows mother Nature to take care of the cold stratification for you!

What is the best time to plant milkweed seeds?

Fall Planting
Fall Planting – Fall is the best time for planting milkweed seeds. The seeds won’t germinate until spring because they require natural freezing and thawing to soften the seed coat so that the embryo plant can grow. This process stops seedlings from emerging in the fall and being killed by winter cold.

When should I plant milkweed?

Ideally, the best time to plant milkweed seeds is in the fall so the cold temperatures and moisture that come with winter stimulate germination. You can also plant milkweed in the springtime.

How long does it take to grow milkweed from seed?

Lightly cover with soil and water well. Seeds should sprout in 1-2 weeks.

How can I get free milkweed seeds?

I found an organization, Live Monarch Foundation, that also offers free seeds. If you mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Live Monarch – 2020 Seed Campaign, PO BOX 1339, Blairsville, GA 30514, the foundation will send back 15 butterfly garden seeds, including milkweed, for free.

Will milkweed bring monarchs?

Milkweeds and Nectar Sources Whether it’s a field, roadside area, open area, wet area, or urban garden; milkweed and flowering plants are needed for monarch habitat. Adult monarchs feed on the nectar of many flowers, but they breed only where milkweeds are found.

Do milkweed plants come back every year?

These native milkweed are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. Their aerial parts (flower, leaves, stem) die back but their rootstock remains alive throughout the winter. Cut back milkweed stalks in the late fall or winter, after they have produced seed pods and these seeds have had time to mature.