Native Flower Seed Mix for Monarchs

Native Flower Seed Mix for Monarchs

This seed mix has both native wildflowers and milkweeds to supply nectar food sources and host plants for the Monarch butterfly. Other butterflies will use the flower nectar, but only the Monarchs use milkweed as a host plant. Both male and female Monarchs have different nectar needs but will often converge where there are host plants. This mix is ideal for planting in the Monarch’s summer breeding range and flyway zones of the United States.

Monarch populations have severely declined over the past several years, and the loss of milkweed plants and nectar sources has been a major contributor. Insect pollination is essential in roughly 35% of the world’s crops.

Home gardeners, gardening clubs and school gardens can all help support the Monarchs by planting and spreading this seed mix in their gardens and communities. Many individuals working independently can improve Monarch habitat faster and more effectively than any other way.

Monarchs utilize the milkweed species exclusively as host plants, as the caterpillar ingests the toxins in the milkweed, making itself poisonous to most predators. Milkweed is the only plant that provides for these needs.

Flower nectar provides both energy and re-hydration for butterflies. Most flower nectar is about 20% sucrose, a natural sugar, and 80% water, an important energy source of carbohydrates, supplying a complex range of sugars to keep the energy levels high. Butterflies “taste” through their feet when they land on a flower!

One seed packet will generously plant approximately 16 square feet – a 4x4 foot space.

Growing Tip

Planting time: the best times to plant are spring, early summer and fall.

What's in the mix

Common Name and Genus/Species

• Bergamot                             Monarda fistulosa                  
• Swamp Milkweed                  Asclepias incarnate               
• Butterfly milkweed                Asclepias tuberosa               
• Smooth Aster                       Aster laevis                          
• New England Aster                Aster novae-angliae              
• Tickseed Sunflower               Bidens aristosa                     
• Lance-Leaved Coreopsis        Coreopsis lanceolate             
• Purple Coneflower                 Echinacea purpurea              
• Joe Pye Weed                       Eupatorium maculatum         
• Indian Blanket                      Gaillardia pulchella               
• Wild Sunflower                     Helianthus annuus               
• Ox-Eye Sunflower                 Heliopsis helianthoides          
• Gayfeather                           Liatris spicata                      
• Clasping Coneflower             Rudbeckia amplexicaulis        
• Cutleaf Coneflower               Rudbeckia laciniate               
• Compass Plant                     Silphium laciniatum              
• Rigid Goldenrod                   Solidago rigida                     
• Hoary Vervain                      Verbena stricta                    
• Prairie Ironweed                   Vernonia fasciculate   

Learn More

• Milkweed, Monarchs and Home Gardeners to the Rescue
• Planting a Pollinator Feast
• Easy Garden Ideas

From the soil to the seed to the food you eat - we'll help you grow your best garden!