Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) attract monarchs to the garden because they are the host plants for the caterpillars. Females lay eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves, which appear as very small white dots. The caterpillars evolved with milkweeds and are adapted to eat the foliage, which is distasteful and toxic to many other insects. Once monarch caterpillars become adults (butterflies), they feed on many nectar-producing flowers. Of the many flowering plants in our yard, the one they return to time and time again is Meadow Blazing Star, Liatris ligulistylis. Although this plant is native to Illinois and other western states, because it is a monarch magnet, we’ve planted a couple of stands of it. Welcome, monarch butterflies!

Photo by Terri Litchfield