Monarchs Don’t Love All the Flowers in My Yard

The Monarchs are super active in the front yard these days. This week there have been 3 active Monarchs, 2 males and a female. One of the males looks like he is coming to the end of his time. He is pale and ragged looking, rather washed out as if he has gone through a hot water wash cycle in the laundry. But he is active and doing his best to impress his lady friend and fight off the other male.

When they aren’t mating or defending their territory, they are looking for nectar, and I have plenty of flowers for them to choose from. I have planted Cosmos in white, violet, and a deep wine. There are scores of zinnias in every color and shape. I have singles, semi doubles and doubles. Orange, yellow, all shades of pink, red, green, white, and even some apricot.

I’ve been watching the butterflies as they decide on which flowers to visit and I mark the flowers that they have selected. Several things have become apparent.

Monarchs do not prefer green flowers.

I have never once seen a monarch ( or any other butterfly) nectaring from a green flower like the Queen  Lime. They float right over the flowers, no matter if it’s a single or semi double.  I’m not sure if they can see the color or just aren’t programmed to consider this an appetizing snack,much like when I see liver and onions .

Double flowers are rarely visited

The double form is either too difficult for the monarch to rest on or there isn’t enough nectar to make the visit worthwhile .

Just the other day I saw a Gulf Fritillary try to alight a double formed zinnia. He tiptoed and danced, trying to get his balance. He quickly gave up and moved on to a more accommodating semi double.

So, the lessons I’ve learned are that 1) just because the seed packet or website states that a particular cultivar is a pollinator magnet, I must do my own observation and 2) the flowers that humans tend to adore (doubles, pollenless, and unusual colors) are not necessarily attractive to pollinators.

Watch the pollinators in your yard to see what they really prefer, then plant more of those. Simple as that!