Trending: butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) — 1105 observations this week
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Native Plants
Butterfly milkweed blooming in your yard or on a roadside verge is one of the clearest signs that monarch butterflies are actively moving through your region — plant a few and you can watch the whole migration drama unfold from your own porch.
Butterfly milkweed is a bright orange wildflower native to North America that thousands of nature lovers are spotting and photographing right now. It's a favorite of monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators because it produces nectar-rich flowers and is the only type of plant monarch caterpillars can eat. Seeing so many observations in a single week tells us the plant is in full bloom across a wide area, which is great news for pollinators.
Key Findings
1,105 research-grade observations of butterfly milkweed were logged on iNaturalist in a single week, placing it among the most observed plant species.
The observation spike signals peak bloom for Asclepias tuberosa, a native milkweed critical to monarch butterfly reproduction and migration.
High citizen-science engagement with this species reflects growing public interest in native plant gardening and pollinator conservation.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Butterfly milkweed is having a standout week on iNaturalist, with over 1,100 research-grade sightings logged by citizen scientists across North America. This native wildflower is peaking in bloom right now, making it one of the most-watched plants of the season.
Abstract Preview
butterfly milkweed is among the most observed plant species this week with 1105 research-grade observations.
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Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern and southwestern North America. It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that are attracted to the plant by its color and its copious production of nectar.