Narrowleaf Milkweed

Our featured plant in the What’s Happening in Our Watershed project for July is the Narrowleaf Milkweed. In our watershed, there are over half a dozen species of milkweed. These tough and hardy perennials grow and flower in the mid-summer heat. Pairs of opposite milkweed leaves may be thin and pointy, as with the Narrow Leaf Milkweed, or broad and hairy as with Wooly Milkweed.

Milkweeds get their name from their toxic white latex sap that deters most herbivores. But the caterpillars of the beautiful monarch butterfly are not deterred. They take the toxins and stash them in their own body as they prepare to become a chrysalis. The monarch butterfly uses the milkweed toxins to render itself poisonous to bird predators, and it’s stunning red and black beauty acts as a warning to its potential predators.

The milkweed story is a reminder of the need to preserve the whole community of life in a watershed. Monarchs have successive generations that migrate hundreds and even thousands of miles over the course of a year. Without milkweeds all along their migratory path, there would be no beautiful monarchs.

The line drawing below was created by Mady Neufeld. You’re welcome to print out and color the image below. You can also download the file here. For additional information, including photographs and range maps, visit the Calscape.