This San Diego Native Milkweed Project is our effort to propagate milkweed native to our area and make it available for purchase at local nurseries or to give away seeds to the public. When we talk about “local native milkweed,” we mean that the seeds have originally been collected from local populations of these species of native milkweed. Local native milkweed was not widely available before we started this project. “Native” milkweed that was available was from seeds collected mostly from northern California.  We think that seed from the local area will thrive better and be more appropriate for habitat restoration, so we set out in partnership with Partners for Fish & Wildlife and many others to collect seed from wild sources and farm them in our San Diego soil.

How to Grow San Diego Native Milkweed

We are so happy that you would like to grow native milkweed for monarch butterflies! This plant can take a little special care and attention to get growing, but once it is established it is a perennial that returns year after year. You will also be rewarded by monarchs visiting throughout the spring and summer. Additionally, you will be one of the people who are helping to make a real conservation difference in the work to keep this butterfly part of our natural world.

Germination Methods

• Cold Stratification: This means that to mimic the cool winter weather, you will chill your seeds in moist soil before planting. To cold stratify seeds, place the seeds into a plastic bag with dampened media such as sand, perlite, vermiculite, paper towel or other media. Make sure media is moist but not too wet, it shouldn’t drip when squeezed. Seal the plastic bag and store it in a standard refrigerator for 4-6 weeks. Seeds should be sown immediately after removing from the fridge. Soil should be kept moist throughout germination period for best results. It's best to get seeds in the ground before end of June for best results. 

• Warm Water and Clipping the Seeds: This method takes more equipment and modification of the seed. It uses a warm environment to get the seeds started germinating. To heat shock the seeds, soak them in warm water for 12-24 hours, then drain and repeat this process three times. After the third warm water treatment, place the seeds in a plastic bag wrapped in a warm, damp paper towel for 24 hours before placing into moist soil.
• Direct Sow: Plant the seeds directly into your garden or the place you want them to grow. This method takes less work, but it will be harder to spot the seedlings as they emerge. It might allow the first roots of the seedlings to get better established because you won’t need to transplant them. For direct sowing, prepare the area by removing weeds and amending soil if needed. Seeds can then be scattered onto the soil surface by hand. After scattering, press the seeds 1/4″ into the soil surface with a garden trowel or the soles of your shoes. Seeds can be direct-sown preceding anticipated rainfall in fall to early spring if temperatures are lower and the soil is still moist.

Additional Resources

• Antonio Sanchez of the Santa Monica Mountains Fund made these helpful videos for sowing directly into the ground, or into pots.
• Theodory Payne Foundation's - How to Plant Milkweed 

You can also check out more details on our "Milkweed for Monarchs" page.

Soil Type

Milkweed generally likes well-drained soil. The Narrowleaf (Asclepias fascicularis)  variety can be planted in a native plant soil mix, or even a cactus mix. 

General Care of Milkweed

Our native milkweeds are drought tolerant so watering every 1-2 weeks is good for establishing plants but watering requirements are minimal for mature plants. Using a top mulch is recommended to conserve moisture and reduce weed competition.

The plants will go dormant for the winter. Keep the soil cool and moist over the months of December, January, and February. Don’t water them necessarily, but don’t let the soil dry out. Then at the end of February or the beginning of March the plants will reemerge from the soil, re-sprouting from the underground roots. At this time you can begin watering the plants as normal.

You may also see golden aphids on your plants. You will want to remove these aphids by squashing them with your fingers or wetting your fingers with water and washing them off. The main negative thing that the aphids can do is cover your plants with a black residue, which is a dust mixed with the honeydew that the aphids produce.

What if I still have tropical (Asclepias curassavica) milkweed?

In the Fall, at the end of October or beginning of November, please cut the tropical milkweed plants down about 1 inch above the ground. 

Monarch Interaction

• When to Expect Them:  You can expect to see monarchs on your milkweed plants throughout their breeding season during spring, summer, and early fall. 
• What to Expect: Monarch’s rely on milkweeds as their host plant; they are the only plant that adults will lay their eggs on and the only plant that caterpillars can eat. You may see an adult butterfly drinking nectar from flowers or laying their eggs on the bottom of milkweed leaves. Tiny white eggs can be visible on the underside of milkweed leaves. Caterpillars will spend about 2 weeks on milkweed, feeding and growing until they’re ready to form their chrysalis.

• Where Do They Go After Eating Your Plant: Once caterpillars are ready to form their chrysalis, they won’t venture too far from their host plant. Rather, they will seek out a nearby stable structure to hang from and form their chrysalis. This may be a nearby plant or branch but caterpillars might also find themselves on something like an outdoor bench, a fence, pole, or awning.

Monarch Migration 

Here in Southern California, we may encounter 2 populations of monarchs. Monarchs born in summer and late fall will migrate south to overwinter in central Mexico or along the California coast. Tens of millions of monarchs overwinter in Mexico’s forest habitats (eastern population) while hundreds of thousands monarchs overwinter in southern California (western population). See here for a map from Monarch Joint Venture showing their amazing trek!