What are the Monarch Butterflies feeding on in Georgia?
Dr. Ray Moranz (Xerces Society/NRCS Grazing Lands Pollinator Ecologist) is asking for help from Georgians. He is looking for a list of nectaring plants favored by Monarchs for Georgia. He explained that professionals have long lists of plant species for Monarchs for Georgia, but their concern is that these are educated guesses and are not actual observations.
Below is a list of plant species observed with Monarch butterflies actively “working” on their flowers. This list was gathered in late 2019 by the conservation biologists and botanists of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance. This is a good start. Are there more species? And can we get photos of Monarchs actually on the flowers of these plant species?
Here’s where you can help!
1. If you see a Monarch butterfly sitting on flowers and probing about with its mouth parts, could you let us know?
2. If you see a Monarch butterfly sitting on flowers and probing about with its mouth parts, could you take a picture and send it to us?
If you know the plant’s name, tell us. If you are not sure, take a few extra photos of the plant from different angles, and we’ll try to identify the plant species for you. Remember, we want your observations and photos of Monarchs engaging with the flowers, not resting on the leaves or stems of the plants.
Observed nectaring plants favored by Monarchs – Georgia – observations by members of the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance 2019
| Allium sp. | Wild garlic, False Onion (spring) |
| Asclepias sp. (tuberosa, perennis) | Milkweed |
| Baccharis halimifolia | Groundsel Bush |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | Buttonbush |
| Chrysopsis mariana | Maryland Goldenaster |
| Cirsium altissimum | Tall Thistle |
| Cirsium horridulum | Yellow Thistle (spring) |
| Clinopodium georgianum | Georgia Mint |
| Conoclinium coelestinum | Blue Mistflower |
| Cornus florida | Flowering Dogwood (spring) |
| Echinacea purpurea | Purple Coneflower |
| Eupatorium hyssopifolium | Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort |
| Eupatorium serotinum | Lateflowering Thoroughwort/ Late Boneset |
| Fothergilla major | Dwarf Witchalder |
| Heterotheca subaxillaris | Camphorweed |
| Jacquemontia tamnifolia | Hairy Clustervine |
| Liatris sp. (spicata, graminifolia) | Blazingstar |
| Lithospermum caroliniense | Carolina Puccoon (spring) |
| Mikania scandens | Climbing H |
| Nuttallanthus canadensis | Canada Toadflax (spring) |
| Packera aureus | Ragwort |
| Packera glabella | Butterweed |
| Passiflora incarnata | Purple Pssionflower |
| Pluchea camphorata | Stinking Camphorweed |
| Polygonum pensylvanicum | Pennsylvania Smartweed |
| Polygonum sagittatum | Arrowleaf Tearthumb |
| Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides | Southern Mountainmint |
| Rhododendron canescens | Piedmont Azalea (spring) |
| Rubus sp. | Blackberry (spring) |
| Rubus trivialis | Southern Dewberry (spring) |
| Solidago sp. (petiolaris, altissima, gigantea, nemoralis) | Goldenrod |
| Symphyotrichum dumosum | Rice Button Aster |
| Symphyotrichum georgianum | Georgia Aster |
| Symphyotrichum lateriflorum | Calico Aster |
| Symphyotrichum patens | Late Purple Aster |
| Symphyotrichum racemosum/dumosum/pilosum | Small White Fall Asters |
| Verbesina occidentalis | Yellow Crownbeard |
| Verbesina virginica | White Crownbeard |
| Vernonia noveboracensis | New York Ironweed |