Hi there,

It could be according to a New Zealand website; guess it's in the family. http://nzbutterfly.info/resident/monarch/food.htm

If you have any, I'd still try to plant some native milkweeds though just in case.

Let us know how it goes!

Yes, there is quite a bit of Web chatter in NZ about this plant as a monarch host.

Your local monarchs might prefer other nearby existing native milkweeds, but could use yours if there is nothing else in the area.

Thanks for your responses bernergrrl and larry.

I grow many native milkweeds including A. tuberosa, A. incarnata, A. verticillata, A.speciosa and A. asperula. I was trying to add some "dessert" to the menu with the Tweedia. ;-)

I'm curious to hear everyone's opinion in the particular case of Danaus plexippus: Is it advisable to concentrate only on native species or should one's efforts be bent toward offering tropical members of the Asclepiadaceae such as Tweedia and A. curassavica?
In my experience in coastal North Carolina, Zone 8a the Monarchs show a definite preference for tropical milkweed over my native species. Wondering if this predilection is because these tropical species are in fact "native" to their Mexican homeland? (Kind of like traveling abroad and pining for a hamburger?) What do you think?

Caviat:
Seeds and plants sold under the name Blue Milkweed are actually Amsonia, a plant in the related family of Apocynacae.
Amsonia will not support Monarch cats.

It may be true that some people call Amsonia "blue milkweed". But I grow Tweedia caerulea and it is not related to Amsonia.
My monarch butterflies do prefer A. curassavica to anything else I grow for them, I've never seen a caterpillar on my Tweedia. But I don't care, I love them and they are extra food when they've eaten every other milkweed in the garden, that's about now. Anybody need seeds? I have em!

I sent you an email 'domehome' & would love to get some seeds of Tweedia from you, please. I would be happy to trade or send you a SASBE for them!
Thanks for offering!
Lila