Monach, Danaus plexippus, nectaring in a California garden on Roldana petasitis, Velvet Groundsel.
(syn Senecio petasitis) c S. Dunlap
(syn Senecio petasitis) c S. Dunlap
Monarch Nectar Plants
Want to feed a specific butterfly? Tools at feedbutterflies.com enable you to find a complete list of nectar plants that appeal to US butterflies. The search results reduce 38,000 entries to a report of either nectar plants that appeal to a specific US butterfly, or, a list of US butterflies that feed on a specific nectar plant.
Analysis of 50,000+ images show that in addition to Asclepias (aka 'Milkweed'), over 220 nectar plants appeal to Monarch butterflies. Below is a sample list of those plants -- many that can be grown in your garden or in pots on your patio. This link directs you to a complete list of plants. Happy planting!
- Apocynum
- Bidens
- Ceanothus
- Coreopsis
- Echinacea
- Eriogonum
- Gaillardia
- Helianthus
- Monarda
- Ratibida
- Rudbeckia
- Salvia
- Scabiosa
- Solidago
- Trifolium
- Verbena
- Zinnia