Trending: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) — 2095 observations this week
iNaturalist Community
Native Plants
Milkweed growing along your fence line or in a sunny corner of your yard is the only plant monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on — no milkweed, no monarchs, full stop.
Common milkweed is having a moment: thousands of people across the country spotted and photographed it this week, making it one of the most-watched plants right now. This plant is famous for being the sole food source for monarch butterfly caterpillars, so when milkweed is blooming and buzzing, monarchs are likely nearby. The flood of observations helps scientists track where the plant is thriving and where monarchs might be heading next.
Key Findings
2,095 research-grade observations of common milkweed were submitted to iNaturalist in a single week, placing it among the most observed plant species.
The spike in sightings likely corresponds to peak bloom or active foliar growth, making this a key phenological window for monarch butterfly activity.
Citizen-science data at this volume creates a near real-time distribution map useful for tracking milkweed availability along monarch migration corridors.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common milkweed is surging in citizen-science observations this week, with nearly 2,100 research-grade sightings logged on iNaturalist — a signal that the plant is in peak bloom or active growth across North America and that observers are paying close attention.
Abstract Preview
common milkweed is among the most observed plant species this week with 2095 research-grade observations.
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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...