[KMag]

Note that there are multiple species of milkweed. If you find milkweed unappealing, look into other species. In the late 1980s/early 1990s, I found a couple of monarch pupae on some plants in the wetlands in my back yard. The plant stems were more stiff and the leaves less velvety than the milkweed I was familiar with in the local park.

I asked our local nature center if Monarchs only eat milkweed, why they would pupate on this plant. They identified the plant as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_incarnata , a variety of milkweed.

[deadmetheny]

A retaining wall in my backyard has a growth of Cynanchum laeve (honeyvine milkweed) and English ivy - it looks rather nice, and every year I find a handful of monarch caterpillars happily munching away at the leaves. While the vines can spread and be very invasive if not controlled, they co-mingle with ivy very well. I greatly appreciate them being part of my garden.