A WORD ON BEHALF OF A WEED

It is funny how one person can consider a plant a weed, while another uses it in their landscaping.  Milkweeds are just such an example.  Milkweeds get their name from the white, milky sap that oozes out if the plant is injured.  Most vertebrate herbivores avoid eating milkweeds because of alkaloids in the leaves and stems.  In part, because of this, the milkweeds were “weedy”.  At least, they used to be weedy in the Midwest. 

Milkweeds are on the decline due to several factors.  This is bad for monarch butterflies.  Milkweed is the host plant! (Say what?)  In the lifecycle of a butterfly, the male and female adults mate (yep, you knew that already), the female places her fertilized eggs on the plant that they will feed upon once they hatch into caterpillars.  This plant “hosts” the caterpillars, hence “host plant”.  The caterpillars will munch on the plant until they are big, fat, and juicy with enough energy stored to fuel them during the pupa stage (a.k.a. chrysalis).  They reorganize their cells and develop into adults.  The adults will feed on the milkweed’s nectar and the circle of life (cue “Lion King” soundtrack) continues.

Cool huh?  But it gets better!  As the caterpillars feed on the milkweed, they also ingest the plant’s toxins and use these chemicals in their adult bodies!  When some unsuspecting animal tries to eat the monarch butterfly, they get a mouthful of yuck.  They won’t make that mistake again and the next time they see a butterfly like that, they will avoid it to the benefit of other monarchs and their look-a-likes.

My evil plan is to increase monarch numbers by planting milkweeds in my gardens (insert evil laugh).  And you are too late to stop me!  I have already planted butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which loves sun, is drought tolerant, and will survive in my garden despite my general neglect.  And for you fools who think you can thwart me next year, you are already beaten because butterfly milkweed is a perennial!!!!!