Trending: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) — 1071 observations this week
iNaturalist Community
Native Plants
Every milkweed plant spotted and logged right now is a data point helping track whether monarch butterflies will have enough breeding habitat this summer — and planting even one clump in a sunny corner of your yard directly expands that network.
Common milkweed is having a moment: more than a thousand people across North America recorded seeing it this week alone. This plant is famous for being the only place monarch butterflies lay their eggs and their caterpillars can eat. When lots of people spot and log it at the same time, it tells scientists where the plant is thriving — and where monarchs might show up next.
Key Findings
1,071 research-grade observations of common milkweed were submitted to iNaturalist in a single week
The observation spike aligns with the plant's peak bloom period, when it is most visible and identifiable
Citizen-science data at this scale can map milkweed availability across the monarch butterfly's breeding range in near real time
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common milkweed is surging in community sightings this week, with over 1,000 research-grade observations logged on iNaturalist — a sign that this native wildflower is blooming across its range and that naturalists are paying close attention.
Abstract Preview
common milkweed is among the most observed plant species this week with 1071 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Asclepias syriaca, commonly called common milkweed, butterfly flower, silkweed, silky swallow-wort, and Virginia silkweed, is a species of flowering plant. It is native to southern Canada and much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding the drier parts of the prairies. It is i...