Monarch Waystation — This Land Monarch Waystation | Indigenous Plant Collection | This Land
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Monarch Waystation

A curated selection of plants that support the full monarch butterfly lifecycle — milkweeds for breeding, nectar-rich wildflowers for migration fuel. Plant these together to create a certified waystation.

17 plants in this collection

● Available Now
Beebalm

Beebalm

Monarda fistulosa

Perennial Bumble bees native bees butterflies (swallowtails)
◑ Full Sun–Part Shade ▲ 2–4 ft 💧 Dry–Medium ✿ Summer (Jun–Aug)
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● Available Now
Black-Eyed Susan

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Wildflower Native bees butterflies goldfinch seed
◑ Part Shade–Sun ▲ 2-3 ft 💧 Dry-Medium ✿ Summer
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● Available Now
Blue Mistflower

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

Perennial/Forb Late-season nectar for butterflies incl. migrating monarchs and native bees (special value); host for Clymene and Lined Ruby Tiger moths; birds eat seed; rhizomatous groundcover
◑ Full Sun–Part Shade ▲ 1–3 ft 💧 Moist–Medium ✿ Summer–Fall
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Not Available
Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Perennial Monarch host plant native bees
☀ Full Sun ▲ 1–2 ft 💧 Dry–Medium ✿ Summer
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Not Available
Cardinal Flower

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Wildflower Hummingbirds swallowtails
◑ Part Shade–Sun ▲ 2–4 ft 💧 Wet–Moist ✿ Late Summer
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● Available Now
Common Milkweed

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Perennial/Forb Primary monarch larval host in the Northeast; also milkweed tussock moth; fragrant nectar has special value to native and bumble bees; seed for songbirds
☀ Full Sun ▲ 3–5 ft 💧 Dry–Medium ✿ Summer
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● Available Now
Eastern Columbine

Eastern Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Wildflower Hummingbirds long-tongued bees columbine duskywing butterfly host
◑ Part Shade–Sun ▲ 1-2 ft 💧 Dry-Moist ✿ Spring
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● Available Now
Forest Goldenrod

Forest Goldenrod

Solidago arguta

Perennial/Wildflower Native bees (200+ species for Solidago genus) monarch nectar butterflies
◑ Part Shade–Sun ▲ 2–4 ft 💧 Dry–Medium ✿ Late Summer–Fall (Aug–Oct)
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● Available Now
Golden Alexander

Golden Alexander

Zizia aurea

Wildflower/Perennial Black Swallowtail butterfly host short-tongued bees wasps
◑ Part Shade–Sun ▲ 1-3 ft 💧 Moist-Medium ✿ Spring
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● Available Now
Gray Goldenrod

Gray Goldenrod

Solidago nemoralis

Perennial/Wildflower 200+ native bee species monarchs butterflies
☀ Full Sun ▲ 1–3 ft 💧 Dry ✿ Late Summer–Fall (Aug–Oct)
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Not Available
Joe Pye Weed

Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium purpureum

Perennial Monarch nectar tiger swallowtail
◑ Sun–Part Shade ▲ 4–7 ft 💧 Moist ✿ Late Summer
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Not Available
New England Aster

New England Aster

Aster novae-angliae

Perennial Monarch nectar 100+ bee species
◑ Full Sun–Part Shade ▲ 3–6 ft 💧 Moist, well-drained ✿ Late Summer–Fall
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● Available Now
New York Ironweed

New York Ironweed

Vernonia noveboracensis

Perennial/Forb Late-season nectar for butterflies (incl. monarchs) native bees and specialist long-horned bees; songbirds eat seed; hollow stems shelter stem-nesting bees; deer resistant
☀ Full Sun–Part Sun ▲ 3–6 ft 💧 Wet–Medium ✿ Late Summer
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● Available Now
Purple Coneflower

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Wildflower Monarch nectar native bees goldfinch seed
☀ Full Sun ▲ 2–4 ft 💧 Well-drained ✿ Summer
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● Available Now
Ten-Petaled Sunflower

Ten-Petaled Sunflower

Helianthus decapetalus

Perennial Native bees goldfinch seed butterflies; caterpillar host for several moths
◑ Part Shade–Sun ▲ 3–5 ft 💧 Moist–Medium ✿ Late Summer (Aug–Sep)
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Not Available
Virginia Bluebells

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

Wildflower Bumble bees hummingbirds
◑ Part Shade–Shade ▲ 12–24 in 💧 Moist ✿ Spring (Apr–May)
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● Available Now
Virginia Mountainmint

Virginia Mountainmint

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Perennial 40+ native bee species butterflies beetles
◑ Full Sun–Part Shade ▲ 2–3 ft 💧 Moist–Medium ✿ Summer (Jul–Sep)
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