Massive cluster of monarch butterflies in their overwintering site in Mexico
Monarch butterflies at overwintering grounds in Mexico. | Image Details

Iconic pollinators

With its iconic orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species in North America. Monarchs are particularly remarkable because they migrate each year, flying from as far as Canada and across the United States to congregate at a few forested overwintering sites in the mountains of central Mexico and coastal California. These sites are an amazing phenomenon: thousands of monarchs cluster in the trees in California, and millions of monarchs drape large swathes of forest in Mexico.

Over the past two decades, monarch numbers in North America have declined, prompting us to join Tribes, state agencies, other federal agencies and non-government groups to identify threats to the monarch and take steps to conserve monarchs throughout their range.

Learn more about our initiative to save the monarch.

Getting started

You can help monarchs and pollinators by planting supporting monarch habitat. This can come in the form of butterfly gardens, milkweed along roadsides, prairie habitat and many others. Every little bit of habitat benefits pollinators and everyone can help. Every action counts!

Plant native milkweed and flowers

The best available science demonstrates that we need every type of land to grow milkweed to reverse the decline of monarchs. This includes private lands, public lands and rights-of-way. Whether you have a few feet on your apartment balcony, a yard in need of landscaping or several acres, you can make a difference. Follow this easy step by step guide to build your own pollinator garden and help ensure the future is filled with pollinators.

Support your local plants

Adding native plants helps preserve local pollinators, birds and other wildlife which have co-evolved with plants and depend upon them for food and shelter. Native plants also benefit local water quality, improves soil health and enhance ecosystem resiliency.

When possible, use seeds and plants sourced from your local area. By planting local and native milkweed and nectar plants, you can benefit pollinators and other grassland species, including songbirds, pheasants and quail. For inspiration, check out our guide: top plants for your pollinator garden.

Avoiding pitfalls

Not all milkweed is created equal! Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) can harm monarchs. Because tropical milkweed's extended blooming period, it more easily spreads diseases that make monarchs sick. If a monarch already has the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), it can spread easily from the infected butterfly to the milkweed and then to other butterflies. OE decreases monarchs’ survival and reproductive rates and can hinder monarch migration.

If you have tropical milkweed, remove it and replace it with native milkweed varieties. Depending on your location and soil conditions, you may consider swamp milkweed, butterfly milkweed, common milkweed, whorled milkweed or showy milkweed - just to name a few widespread varieties.

A monarch butterfly and two bumble bees visit a spotted joe pye plant
A monarch butterfly sips nectar from spotted joe pye. | Image Details

Learn more and get involved

Everyone can play a role in monarch conservation. Learn more about ways you can get involved: