Our popular Monarch Buffet Kit has been updated for Spring '24 with offers an array of natives that support the entire Monarch butterfly life cycle, from egg to adult migration. It contains two different types of milkweed, butterfly weed and rose milkweed. Not only are these milkweeds beautiful, but they are also Larval Hosts for the Monarch and produce delicious nectar for the adults. The selection of plants in this kit will offer nectar from June through October for Monarchs to fuel up before their long trip to Mexico!
Design Tips:
- Prepare your garden site (follow the link for details)
- A sunny location is an ideal conditions for this grouping
- Plants in this kit will all do well in wet to moderate soil moisture conditions
- Group plants of the same species together
- Consider the height of each plant. Position taller plants at the back and shorter plants at the front.
Kit Contents:
7 varieties, 2 of each plant (total of 14). Details for each variety are below and each is pictured at the left side of your screen in the listed order, beginning just after the monarch cover photo:
2-Butterfly Weed
2-Rose Milkweed
2-Blackeyed Susan
2-Northern Blazing Star
2-Riddell's Goldenrod
2-Joe Pye (purple)
2-New England Aster
The plants in this kit are pictured in order of the list above.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure – Full, Partial
Soil Moisture - Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry
Height – 2'
Bloom Time - June-August
Bloom Color – Orange
Attracts - butterflies and native bees
Resistance - deer
Pollinator benefit - Larval host for Monarch butterfly, Grey hairstreak, Queens; good nectar plant
Rose Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure – Full, Partial
Soil Moisture – Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium
Height – 4'
Bloom Time – June, July, August
Bloom Color – Pink
Resistance - Deer
Attracts - butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
Pollinator Benefit - Larval Host for Monarch and Queen butterflies; excellent nectar source for other pollinators; Xerces Society identifies as Special Value to Native Bees and Bumble Bees
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure - Full, Partial
Soil Moisture - Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height – 2ft
Bloom Time - June through October
Bloom Color - Yellow to orange
Attracts - beneficial native bees, butterfly,es and birds; seeds for birds in fall/winter
Pollinator benefit - valuable to native bees
Northern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure – Full, Partial
Soil Moisture - Moist, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height – 2ft
Bloom Time - August-September
Bloom Color – Purple
Attracts: Butterflies, bees
Pollinator benefit: especially good for native bees; good nectar plant
Riddell's Goldenrod (Solidago riddellii)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet, Moist
Soil Type: Calcareous, Sand, Gravel
Height: 2'-3'
Bloom Time: August - October
Bloom Color: Yellow
Deer: Resistant
Drought: Moderately resistant
Attracts: Butterflies, native bees, birds
Pollinator Benefit: Late season nectar source; value to native bees for pollen and nesting materials; migrating Monarchs
Purple Joe Pye (Eutrochium purpureum)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial, Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-Wet
Height: Up to 6'
Bloom Time: July - September
Bloom Color: Light purple
Deer: Resistant
Drought: Resistant
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, birds
Pollinator benefit: Excellent plant for honey bees and native bees; generous nectar for all nectaring insects
New England Aster (Symphiotrichum novae-angliae)
Native Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height: 5ft
Bloom Time: August - October
Bloom Color: Purple
Resistant to: Deer, Drought
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, birds
Pollinator benefit: Larval Host Plant for Checkerspot butterfly and various moths, late season nectar producer for all nectaring insects
Supports 105 Native Pollinators