Native Garden
Why are native plants important?
- Gardening with plants native to your area is an amazing way to support biodiversity.
- Native plants provide shelter and food for local animals and insects.
- Since they naturally thrive in their own environment, they do not require fertilizers or pesticides.
- They also require less water, having already adapted to the conditions of their environment.
Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
A monarch’s favorite plant! These native plants have beautiful pinkish flowers.
Why is milkweed so important to monarch butterflies?
- Monarch butterflies will only lay their eggs on the undersides of milkweed leaves.
- After the caterpillars hatch from their eggs, they feed on the milkweed leaves.
- Milkweed leaves contain a chemical that is poisonous to most other animals.
- Monarchs have developed a resistance to this toxin. Ingesting it provides the caterpillars with a strong defense against predators who would otherwise eat them!
Other plants in this greenhouse
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Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
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Eastern Redbud Tree
Cercis canadensis
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Blue False Indigo
Baptisia australis
