Is there any value to planting a garden of solely milkweed or do I have to mix in other flowering species to make a beneficial habitat?

 Having a garden full of milkweed is beneficial for monarchs. The best habitat for monarchs, however, contains a variety of native milkweed as well as nectar plants. While milkweeds are the only plants that monarch larvae can eat, the adult monarchs themselves do not eat only milkweed. Instead, they rely on the nectar from flowers. Having a combination of milkweed and other flowering plants helps ensure that adult monarchs will have a food source even when the milkweed plants are not in bloom. To find out what nectar and milkweed plants to buy visit Xerces Society’s Nectar Guides and our Plant Milkweed for Monarchs handout.