- Joined
- Sep 18, 2008
- Messages
- 6,087
- Reaction score
- 413
- Location
- Michigan
- Website
- keskedgell.blogspot.com
Liatris ligulistylis bloom with Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' in the background. This liatris is best for attracting monarchs, since they really seem to love the nectar from this plant. I have milkweed growing in my yard, the common which found itself there on its own, and the swamp or rose milkweed I grew from seed (I have purple, too). The common can be a real pest and spread by runners all over, but the swamp (Asclepias incarnata) is more behaved and clumps instead. The flowers are smaller but smell just as good as the common, and if you cut off the seed pods before they ripen it'll help keep the plant from spreading around the yard too much. I've only seen one monarch this year at my house and I hope it is a gravid female. I have enough milkweed and other nectar plants around. I've seen it land on my liatris, but I haven't been able to get a picture, though my mom did with her cell phone. I was hoping to see more monarchs, but they are becoming scarce anymore, sadly.