Peaceful Valley Save the Monarch Kit - Northwest (1/8 lb)

Monarch butterfly populations are threatened primarily due to reduction in milkweed and nectar producing flowering plants along their migratory routes. Removal of the milkweed plant by farmers and homeowners by using herbicides has resulted in a dramatic reduction in populations of the monarch.

What can you do to help? Plant a mix of seeds to help the monarchs. The mix contains not only milkweed seeds but also seeds that will produce flowers for the adult butterflies to feed. We offer different mixes of seeds depending on your region. Choose from Intermountain, Southeast, California, Midwest-Northeast, Northwest and Southwest Monarch Butterfly Mix. 1/8 lb bag covers 500 sq ft.

Northwest Monarch Butterfly Mix contains:

• Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
• Sickelkeel lupine (Llupinous rivularis var. Hederma)
• Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)
• Yellow lupine (Lupinus densiflorus)
• Perennial lupine (Lupinus perennis)
• Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
• Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
• Rocky mountain iris (Iris missouriensis)
• Sweet william (Dianthus barbatus)
• Godetia (Clarkia amoena)
• Oregon sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum)

Photo by Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

Lifecycle of the Monarch – Female monarch butterflies lay three to four hundred of their eggs on the leaves of the milkweed plants. The female will spread her eggs over many milkweed plants. The subsequent larvae will feed on the milkweed leaves during their larval stage and increase their body mass more than two thousand times. The caterpillar will then form a cocoon or chrysalis. The metamorphosis occurs inside the cocoon and after about 9-15 days, the butterfly will emerge.