Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 9 45 continued on page 46 added to the garden for butterflies include: places that provide shelter from wind and rain; dark stones or tiles for warming up; and wet, sandy, or muddy spots to imbibe salts and other nutrients. Milkweed: The Only Monarch Host Plant Besides the many attractive annu- als and perennials that provide nectar to fuel the monarch's long journey, milkweed is an absolute necessity for egg laying and consid- ered a "host" plant, as mentioned previously. There's actually over one hundred different types of milkweed, so be sure to plant one native to New Jersey for best results. Unfortunately, besides Butterfly weed, which is increasingly available at garden cen- ters, it can be difficult to find the other varieties for sale. And while many grow in the wild, digging plants or taking seeds from local parks is not allowed, and transplant- ing established milkweed is notori- ously difficult. Luckily, RareFind Nursery in Jackson is a knowledgeable, local source for milkweed, although they are currently sold out this autumn. "We restocked three times this sea- son," comments Keriann Scott, nurs- ery manager. When asked if that's an indication of growing awareness, Scott replies, "Yes and no. The aver- age person still doesn't have a clue. But we're at a turning pointing in our trade. With not only the mon- archs, but all pollinators, like bees, the concern is up and coming. People are asking about true natives and pes- ticide spraying. Those into gardening understand it and we've seen Eagle Scout and Girl Scout projects empha- sizing rebuilding habitats." These are the native varieties of milkweed Scott recommends: • Common (Asclepias syriaca). Likes sunny areas and meadows. Grows easily but spreads by rhizomes and can be invasive. Forms colonies of tall, single stems up to five feet and has pinkish purple flowers. • Swamp (Asclepias incarnata). Likes sun to part shade and moist soils. Grows about three to six feet tall and has light pink flowers varying from near white (called Ice Ballet) to purple. • Butterfly (Asclepias tuberosa). Likes sun and well-drained, sandy soils, and can tolerate drought. Has attractive bright orange or yellow (look for Hello Yellow or Blonde Bombshell varieties) flowers on branching stems that are about one and a half feet tall. It has clear rather than milky sap like the others. "We'll definitely have Common, Swamp, and Butterfly next spring," says Scott. They may also have Horsetail (Ascelpias verticillata) with whitish flowers and wispier, thin leaves. "But it's best to start with Common or Swamp," com- ments Scott, who recommends ide- ally planting between tax day and Mother's day. For those who want to get start- ed right away, another way to plant milkweed is by spreading seeds in mulch this fall. Fall seeding allows the milkweed seeds to naturally go through cold stratification, a neces- sary process some seeds require to break dormancy and germinate in the spring. "Don't get discouraged, it can take a few times before seeding works," comments Scott. If you're having difficulty find- ing seeds, check out the Milkweed Market at Monarch Watch (www. monarchwatch.org/milkweed/mar- ket). They will only ship plants to the ecoregion from which the seeds Monarchs at Island Beach resting atop Seaside Goldenrod during their annual migration. Richard A. King

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