Milkweed is a required plant for monarchs to live and thrive. Caterpillars munch only on milkweed leaves and the females lay their eggs on the plants as well. Milkweed is also a great nectar plant for many other pollinators like bees and other butterflies, but also hummingbirds.

Most people think of the plant common milkweed when someone mentions milkweed, but there are other varieties that can be found in Minnesota and are great for your gardens too. Remember that named varieties you might see in the garden center are great plants, but insects and birds prefer the native varieties they have seen for almost ever.

Butterfly Weed is a fantastic garden plant since it is a shorter, more compact milkweed bursting with orange flowers.

Despite its name, Swamp Milkweed, will do just fine in average garden soil. This variety also doesn’t spread except by self seeding and is easy to dig up or move early in the season.

Other native varieties of milkweed include whorled, purple and poke. No matter which you plant, the insects and birds will be sure to gather!

Join our outgoing community of Master Gardeners in Dakota County by applying to become a Master Gardener. The application for this year is now available on our website along with all the details. Applications are due by October 1.

The mission of the Dakota County Extension Master Gardener program is to educate and assist the public by answering questions and solving problems about horticulture and related environmental topics. There are more than 130 Dakota County residents who are University of Minnesota Extension-trained and volunteer thousands of hours each year.  Come grow with us!

Have questions?  We would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about our program and activities.  Just contact us!

Much information has been shared about the plight of bees and pollinators in recent years. The Midwest was once home to a large population of rusty batch bumble bees but are now considered endangered.

The bees were recently spotted in Burnsville in a prairie conservation area showing that efforts to create more native habitat for pollinators is paying off! Learn how to spot these bees and to report your sightings by visiting the U of M Bee Lab.