Monarch Butterflies in WNC: Easy Ways to Help Them in Your Backyard

Every late summer and early fall, Western North Carolina gets front-row seats to an amazing natural event: the monarch butterfly migration. As these bright orange butterflies make their long journey south to Mexico, they pass right through our mountain towns—from the Blue Ridge Parkway down to local backyards in Asheville, Hendersonville, and Swannanoa.   

If you're looking to spot monarch butterflies in WNC, you don't need to be a scientist or an expert gardener to help them out. You just need a few of the right plants in your yard.   

Did you know monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed? Plant a little milkweed in your yard, and you’ll have front-row seats to nature’s amazing life cycle!

Milkweed: The Ultimate Monarch Caterpillar Food

If you want monarchs to stick around, milkweed is non-negotiable. Monarch caterpillars only eat leaves from the milkweed family. Without it, female butterflies can't lay their eggs, and new caterpillars can't survive.   

Common varieties like Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Weed grow incredibly well in our mountain soil. When the eggs hatch, tiny caterpillars start munching right away. Eating milkweed actually makes the caterpillars taste bad to birds, protecting them as they grow!   

The Surprise Spot: Chrysalises on Great Coneflower (Rudbeckia Maxima)

Here’s a fun secret about monarchs: while caterpillars only eat milkweed, they almost always crawl away to pupate (turn into a chrysalis). A caterpillar can travel up to 30 feet just to find a sturdy, hidden spot.   

That’s where plants like Great Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima) come in handy. With its huge, leathery, blue-green leaves and tall stems, it acts like a secure umbrella for a caterpillar ready to make its transformation.   

Monarch caterpillars often walk up to 30 feet away from their milkweed just to find a sturdy home for their chrysalis! The big, broad leaves of Great Coneflower make the ultimate cozy anchor.

3 Quick Steps for a Monarch-Friendly Yard in WNC

You don't need a huge budget or a massive yard to make a difference. Here is a simple checklist to get started:   

• Plant the Food: Add a couple of native milkweed plants so caterpillars have plenty to eat.   

• Add Sturdy Shelters: Plant tall perennials with broad leaves—like Great Coneflower or Joe-Pye Weed—to give caterpillars safe places to form their chrysalis.   

• Feed the Adults: Put in late-blooming flowers like Goldenrod or Asters to give full-grown butterflies plenty of nectar energy before their long flight south.   

Keeping an eye out for caterpillars and chrysalises is one of the easiest ways to enjoy nature right outside your back door. What native plants are you growing in your WNC garden this year?