Steve Yoder
I'm Steve, a 30-something urban gardener fascinated by companion planting research. Growing up surrounded by greenery sparked my passion for gardening early on. I enjoy transforming my small backyard, experimenting with companion planting techniques and eco-friendly practices. Sustainability matters—I advocate for native plants and composting.
Table of Contents
You must be aware of the significance of milkweed, a plant that draws pollinators and gives monarch butterflies their seeds. However, did you know that the correct companion plants may support the growth of your milkweed? Let us check out the best milkweed companion plants!
Best Milkweed Companion Plants
Blanketflower
We start our list of the best milkweed companion plants with the blanket flower. The perennial Blanketflower, also called Gaillardia aristata, has yellow blooms that bloom from July until the first frost. This plant attracts butterflies, so you can watch the display while lounging on your patio or porch.
It thrives in hot, dry climates because it is a native of North America. Additionally, it has sturdy stems that don’t mind being pruned in the winter when they wither (good news for those of us who hate removing dead plants).
Since blanket flower smells unpleasant to deer—much like milkweed—they won’t disturb it. Since deer won’t eat milkweed too, this makes blanket flowers another great member of the best milkweed companion plants.1
Catmint
We continue our list of the best milkweed companion plants with catmint. Catmint is a perennial herb that can reach a height of around one foot. It blooms with lavender and is a wonderful milkweed companion plant since it draws pollinators. If you have cats, feel free to eat the leaves as well as they are edible! These facts make catmint another great member of the best milkweed companion plants.
Lantana
In the South, lantana is a typical weed. It is a 6-foot-tall perennial shrub with yellow blooms. This plant, which also draws butterflies on its own, is a particularly suitable choice as a companion plant for milkweed because of the way it grows. If you want to keep your yard looking neat since lantana may be invasive, think about using it sparingly or growing it indoors so it won’t spread past the confines of your container.
Use caution when growing lantana close to locations where people or animals congregate because it is harmful to both of these groups of creatures, including bees. What a great milkweed companion this is!
Sunflower
We continue our journey of the best milkweed companion plants with sunflowers. The sunflower is a perennial plant that gets up to six feet tall and blooms profusely in the summer with vivid yellow flowers.
It is a fantastic plant to cultivate with milkweed because it supports the plants as they develop.
Sunflower is advantageous for butterfly gardens as well since butterflies are drawn to their enormous flowers.
They are also a good addition to pollinator gardens, especially if you don’t have any other choices.
To learn more about sunflower companion plants you can follow the link below:
Wild Bergamot
A perennial plant native to North America is called wild bergamot. It is lovely all year round because of its purple blooms and green foliage. In colder areas, wild bergamot can be used as an annual, but if planted where it can survive the winter, it will die back in the winter and come back every spring.
The conditions for growing wild bergamot include full sun and well-drained soil. If not routinely weeded or mowed, this herbaceous plant may spread swiftly. These are the reasons why it is a member of the best milkweed companion plants.
Zinnias
The last member of the best milkweed companion plants is the zinnia. Annual zinnias thrive in both full sun and little shade. They are a wonderful addition to any flower garden because of the vibrant colors of their petals, which draw bees and butterflies to your yard. Zinnias may be grown from seeds or purchased as transplants at your neighborhood nursery.
Also, have a look at the list of the best zinnia companion plants:
What to Avoid when Planting Milkweed
Milkweed does not have bad companions. It is a friendly plant and enjoys the presence of neighbors! However, you must consider a few points when planting milkweed, otherwise, you will create bad milkweed companions yourself.
- Too much water
- Pesticides
Water
Too much water will lead to death. Now you will think that this is the case with all plants. You are right but milkweed is a bit extra sensitive to this issue. The point is that there are several types of milkweed. Some enjoy more water others less than the family members. So, make sure to research your milkweed before you care about it. To help you with that issue we found this excellent paper. This will guide you through your milkweed journey!2
Pesticides
As you all know there is much marketing telling you to buy pesticides for a pest-free garden. In some cases that might be true but in this case, we have to take a better look at it. We already mentioned that milkweed thrives on butterflies and loves their presence to develop and grow healthy. If you use pesticides on them all beneficial butterflies will die drinking the pesticide. So, be careful and don’t use pesticides in the area of milkweed.
References
- Shi, L., Teixeira, C. S. P., Dance, T., Sullivan, J. A., & Lyons, E. M. (2022). The effect of temperature and cold-moist stratification on seed germination of temperate climate grass and forb prairie species. In Proceedings of the 20th Agronomy Australia Conference, Toowoomba, Australia.
- Myers, A., Bahlai, C. A., & Landis, D. A. (2019). Habitat type influences Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) oviposition and egg survival on Asclepias syriaca (Gentianales: Apocynaceae). Environmental entomology, 48(3), 675-684.
