Few creatures capture the wonder of nature like the monarch butterfly. Their bright orange wings floating gracefully through the garden are more than just a beautiful sight—they tell the story of one of the most incredible migrations on Earth. Here in Iowa, our gardens can play a vital role in supporting monarchs as they travel and raise their young.
Monarch Basics and Migration
Monarch butterflies are easily recognized by their orange wings with black borders and white spots. But beyond their beauty, they’re known for an astonishing migration. Each fall, monarchs travel thousands of miles from Canada and the northern U.S.—including Iowa—to overwintering grounds in the mountains of central Mexico. In spring, they make the journey back north, with multiple generations completing the round trip. Iowa, right in the heart of the monarch’s breeding range, is an essential stopover and nesting ground along this route.
The Monarch Lifecycle
Like all butterflies, monarchs go through four stages of life:
Egg – Tiny eggs are laid on milkweed plants.
Caterpillar (larva) – The striped caterpillar hatches and feeds only on milkweed, which provides the toxins that help protect monarchs from predators.
Chrysalis (pupa) – The caterpillar forms a jade-green chrysalis with golden flecks, where it transforms.
Adult butterfly – The monarch emerges, ready to feed on nectar, mate, or continue migration.
This whole cycle takes about a month, and several generations occur each summer in Iowa. The last generation of the year is the one that makes the long migration to Mexico.
Host Plants and Nectar Favorites
The most important host plant for monarchs is milkweed. Monarch caterpillars can’t survive without it. In Iowa, some great native milkweed species to plant include:
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
In addition to milkweed, adult monarchs need nectar-rich flowers for energy. They especially love blooms like coneflowers, blazing star, zinnias, sunflowers, goldenrod, and asters, which provide food during late summer and fall migration.
How You Can Help Monarchs Thrive in Your Garden
Supporting monarchs doesn’t require a large prairie—small changes in your backyard can make a big difference. Here are a few simple tips:
Plant native milkweed to provide essential host plants for monarch caterpillars.
Grow a mix of nectar flowers that bloom from spring through fall to ensure food is available all season.
Avoid pesticides and herbicides, which can harm caterpillars, butterflies, and the plants they rely on.
Create clusters of flowers rather than scattering them, making it easier for monarchs to spot and access nectar sources.
Leave space for rest and shelter, such as shrubs, tall grasses, or even a corner of your yard that’s a little wild.
A Garden That Gives Back
By planting milkweed and pollinator-friendly flowers, you’re not only adding beauty to your landscape but also helping sustain one of the most extraordinary migrations in the natural world. With every monarch that flutters through your Iowa garden, you can take pride in knowing your backyard is part of their journey.
At Ted Lare Garden Center, we’re making the same commitment by planting milkweed and other pollinator-friendly plants all around our property. These additions not only beautify our gardens but also provide essential habitat and nourishment for monarchs as they migrate through Iowa. Together, with both our efforts and yours, we can ensure that monarch butterflies continue to thrive for generations to come.
If you’d like to join us in supporting monarchs, stop by our garden center to explore our selection of milkweed and pollinator-friendly flowers. We’d love to help you create a backyard sanctuary that welcomes these amazing butterflies.
