DID YOU KNOW?

The migratory monarch butterfly (the famous orange-and-black butterfly) was declared endangered in 2022 because its population dropped dramatically. This is caused by habitat loss, climate changes, and declining milkweed. Milkweed is the only plant their caterpillars can eat.

What YOU can do this September:

• Early fall is the best time to plant native species; consider adding milkweed to your garden.
• Plant native nectar plants that will benefit monarchs and other pollinators.
• Avoid using pesticides on or near these plants to keep the caterpillars safe.

Planting a Butterfly Garden

Include nectar-rich plants like zinnias, lantana, Baja fairy duster, bottlebrush, and wooly butterflybush, which are great for attracting butterflies. Don’t forget, butterflies need food for their entire lifecycle, so include larval host plants, like milkweed, penstemon, hackberry trees, pipevine and passion vine, desert senna, brittlebush, and mallows. Butterflies will lay their eggs and once hatched, the caterpillars will eat the plants leaves and flowers. Pick the right plants, which will quickly regrow new leave - there is no need to fret about the hungry, hungry caterpillar.

Provide the best habitat for these insects by grouping your plants together, rather than spreading them out or planting a single plant. You can even make this a community effort by organizing with your neighbors! Remember to review soil, hardiness zone, and light/shade requirements before planting. 

Last, to be an extra great butterfly host, include a shallow water feature in your garden. Butterflies exercise a behavior called mud puddling, where they sip out salts and minerals from moisture on surfaces. However, they don’t land on water, so this can be as simple as soil and rocks in a pie tin, covered with a bit of water and placed in a sunny area.

For more information on creating your own butterfly garden in Arizona, check out the following helpful resources:

• "Desert Butterfly Gardening" by the Arizona Native Plant Society and the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute, at your local library
• Arizona Native Plant List by the Arizona Native Plant Society
• A guide on butterfly gardening by the Central Arizona Butterfly Association
• Selecting Plants for Pollinators in the American Semidesert and Desert by The Pollinator Partnership

Download Project Monarch

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, along with quite a handful of nonprofits, are looking for more folks to record tagged monarchs! Download the Project Monarch app to help record radio-tagged monarchs near you. This data collection is critical for monarch conservation efforts.

Apple Store      Android

Arizona Monarch Collaborative

Find more information and resources on monarchs here!