Louise's Utopia: Why I Planted Hundreds Of The Common Milkweed In My Fields

The Common Milkweed Coteau Valley Farm

Asclepias Syriaca, the common milkweed. A native perennial flower. It has a large fruit pod that blooms out in the summer, showing an enormous number of pink flowers. This perennial feeds four hundred species of insects. The milkweed is wildly important to a lot of little flyers and crawlers out there on the prairie! Recently, my family and I planted hundreds of milkweed in the fields around my home. It was a lot of fun, and the weather was sunny and cool. We were very excited and optimistic. We imagined all the new milkweed that would soon grow. Here are some reasons why we planted all the seeds we harvested.

The common milkweed is a native perennial of South Dakota. Why does that make any difference? Planting native perennials provides food for native wildlife. Bees and wasps feed on the milkweed. We definitely need more healthy bees. Ladybugs and lacewings eat the aphids. These aphids also live on the milkweed. When native plants like the milkweed are planted, water is conserved in your area. Native plants are proven to consume less water than nonnative plants. Extra water is important to any drought-ridden area, such as the prairie. Native plants reduce erosion while increasing soil structure with their deep roots. The milkweed, like other native plants, provides a habitat for insects to live. There are literally hundreds of insects that rely on the milkweed for food.

In addition to its use by insects, there is also a long history of humans using it for medicinal purposes. Native Americans used it to cure a number of ailments, and saw it as medicine to be found on the prarie. Please note though, the sap is toxic to plants and animals. I also know it can cause a rash on your skin. So be cautious and understand the risks before using this perennial for anything other than food for insects. (Especially to ingest.) For most, it is a forgotten science, and would require great skill to learn. Disclaimer: Do not use for medicinal purposes. Except at your own risk. I am not advising its medicinal use.

One last reason I will mention, as to why we should plant the milkweed, is the most important to me. I love the monarch butterfly. It is definitely the little jewel of the prairie. The monarch must be protected. So also must its life supply the milkweed. The monarch Butterfly literally exists because of this plant. In the butterfly stage of its life, it lays its eggs on the plant. The eggs hatch into larvae. The caterpillar then feeds on the plant. One aspect of this plant I found interesting is that milkweed contains cardiac glycoside compounds. These compounds are toxic to many insects. However, some other clever insects eat the plant for these compounds. They use cardiac glycosides in their tissue as a defense mechanism. Eating and storing these compounds, which are found in the milkweed, makes the insect toxic to its enemies! They are no longer a temptation to predators who might otherwise see them as lunch! Monarch butterflies use this survival tactic, too! Birds go the other way, looking for another meal! Birds that may have ordinarily eaten them for lunch. Pretty smart survival tactic. There colorful display serves as a warning to potential predators, beware before you try to eat me.

These are a few of the reasons why we decided to harvest and plant milkweed on our land. The milkweed flower is the monarch's number one food and shelter provider; the milkweed is invaluable to the monarch. It is native, and it is a haven for countless other insects. The milkweed has medicinal purposes. These are only a handful of reasons; there are many more. These perennials are not weeds, as some believe. They are not! They are extremely valuable to many insects and the ecosystem as a whole. They should be protected. One way to do that is to go out today and replant some of your own. Choose that favorite spot in your garden. The one you last saw the monarch in. He will send his thanks!