[rrradical]

FYI to anyone out there considering this- don't plant tropical milkweed:

"Another problem with tropical milkweed is that it harbors a one-celled parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, called OE for short. Because tropical milkweed does not die out in winter, the parasite does not die back either. Monarchs with large numbers of this parasite – which coevolved with monarchs and does not infect other species – are born with crumpled wings and cannot fly; the less infected are smaller, have shorter lifespans, fly poorly or are unsuccessful at mating. Only the healthiest butterflies reach overwintering areas in Mexico; butterflies with this parasite do not survive long migrations. "

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2024/08/03/more-abut-monarch-bu...

[joecool1029]

Additionally don't plant butterfly bush, it's considered an invasive noxious weed and illegal in a few US states (at least Washington and Oregon, possibly New York). https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Bu...

[blackjack_]

This always seems like a stretch to me? I have two large butterfly bushes in my ~2000 sqft pollinator garden (NorCal) and they seem to perform only moderately; I.e. they attract significantly less pollinators than almost any other plant in the garden. Lavender, salvia, sage, rosemary, Mexican sage, Mexican marigolds, poppies, and daisies all attract way more pollinators even though they are smaller.

[Qworg]

Those bushes not attracting many pollinators doesn't make them less invasive or noxious.

[blackjack_]

True, but they aren’t invasive here (NorCal, they are “potentially invasive” because they are invasive elsewhere, but do not spread) and native butterflies can use them as a host species here.

[seszett]

I don't know about the US but in most of France and Belgium they are everywhere, they grow like weeds, including on badly maintained brickwork, they seem to be especially suited to urban areas.

All these other plants you mentioned do attract pollinators but they don't propagate as well, they are only where they have been planted at least around here. Even on the warmer Atlantic coast, rosemary and lavender grow well but they don't propagate nearly as much by themselves as butterfly bush (Buddleja) does.

[pfdietz]

I have two butterfly bushes in upstate NY. They are not invasive here; they struggle to survive cold winters (being killed back to the roots and recovering only partially.) They show no signs of spreading. When I lived near Chicago, they wouldn't survive cold winters at all.

[klondike_klive]

It's super hardy and opportunistic. It's not uncommon here in the UK to see it growing out of cracks in brickwork at the tops of buildings.

[darth_avocado]

The best case is to use the native Milkweed in your geo. Source that if you can. However, in a lot of places only tropical milkweed is available. You can still grow it, but like the parent suggests, it is a problem if you let it survive the winter. Cut it down to the roots post summer.

[fnimick]

??? You can order seedlings online.