Monarch Nectar Plant Guides

Monarchs are in decline across their range in North America and one of the most significant actions you can take to support monarch populations is providing nectar-rich flowers and milkweed host plants. Adult monarchs depend on diverse nectar sources for food during all stages of the year, from spring and summer breeding to fall migration and overwintering. Caterpillars, on the other hand, are completely dependent on their milkweed host plants. Inadequate milkweed or nectar plant food sources at any point may impact the number of monarchs that successfully arrive at overwintering sites in the fall.

The guides below were created to address a need for evidence-based, monarch-specific nectar plants throughout the U.S.  To learn more about selecting the best milkweed for your region, see these milkweed guides for your region.