Since 1990, the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has chosen a perennial plant of the year. For 2010, baptisia australis (blue false indigo, wild indigo, or baptisia) has been selected. The criteria for selection includes little need for maintenance, the ability to grow and thrive in a wide range of climates, ease of propagation, and interest through more than one season. The PPA has named a winner every year since 1990.
Monarch butterflies are waiting for the PPA to name asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) or some other milkweed variety beneficial to them as perennial plant of the year. Asclepias-type milkweed is the favorite food of monarch larvae. In partaking of its milkweed food, the monarch caterpillar also ingests toxins which are a major defense mechanism for the caterpillars. Predators of monarch larvae have learned and passed down to offspring the fact that these caterpillars taste bad and making a meal of them means ingestion of toxins which lead to sickness and perhaps death. The sacrifice of one monarch caterpillar to teach a predator a lesson so that other monarch caterpillars are left to fully develop is an effective survival of the species mechanism. However, without the meal of toxic milkweed, this defense mechanism cannot function.
The take away from this article is twofold: first, plant some milkweed for the beautiful monarch butterflies and their larvae (monarch and other butterflies will like the nectar of the flowers, too), and second, consider the current or any past perennial plant of the year for your garden plan this year.
Asclepias seeds grow easily and well throughout Southwestern New Jersey and the greater Philadelphia region and can be found in local stores large or small and through various on-line merchants -- here's a couple:
Comments