Learn about monarchs and how to create a pollinator-friendly habitat in your own yard.
  • Growing Plants for You
  • Give-Away Details
  • Plant List
  • Plant Reservation Form
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Members and friends of Christ the King grew milkweed and other pollinator-friendly plants for distribution at Monarch Fest.
Watch our story and learn how to do Winter Sowing for yourself.
​Sowing Seeds for the Community
Youth for Monarchs
​Through the winter and spring of 2020, volunteer “Seed Sowers” grew over 500 native perennial plants to give away free to the community at an event called Monarch Fest, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in West Chester, Ohio. This video explain how we did it and why, in the hopes that it will encourage others.
​Winter Sowing Perennials: A Quick Tutorial
Youth for Monarchs
This is a ten minute tutorial about starting perennials from seed using a method called "winter sowing." Winter sowing is a seed growing technique made popular by Trudi Davidoff.. This easy, low cost method utilizes plastic containers to start seedlings outdoors during the winter.
Is there a list showing Which plants are available?
Yes, you can find a PLANT LIST for the plants which are being distributed on the tab above. The list includes an image of each plant with information about light requirements, height, bloom period, moisture requirements, and general notes.
How do I know which plants will work best in my garden?
Think about where you would like to put your plant and look at the plant information shown on the plant list. Make sure that your selected plant will do well with the amount of sun it will receive, the space available for it to grow, and the moisture requirements it needs. You can get other garden design tips HERE.
How many plants can I receive?
You can choose up to any 3 plants.
Can I pre-order plants?
Yes! Go to the Pre-Order Form tab found above and complete your order. 
When and where are plants being distributed?
Plants will be available for pick-up at Christ the King on Saturday, June 5 from 10 am - 1:30 pm. Get directions
After 1:30, unclaimed pre-ordered plants will be available (on a first-come first-served basis) to anyone who would like them. 
I don't want to Pre-order plants. Can I just show up on distribution day?
Sure, we will have a limited supply of plants for distribution on June 5. If people don't pick-up their pre-orders by 1:30 pm, we will distribute those plants to whomever would like them.
What COVID-19 related health precautions are you taking?
The health and safety of our volunteers and community members are very important!
We will be following current guidelines set by the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health.
You have the option of drive-thru pick up for your plants. There's no need to park and get out. 
See the information below to see the plants which are being distributed for FREE on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
​Note that there are limited number of plants available. ​They will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last.

The images below show mature plants. You will be receiving small plants that are primarily developing their root system. They may not bloom this year, but should take off next year and beyond.

 Milkweed Varieties (Acslepias) - host plants for monarch butterfly 

Butterfly Weed Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) 
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Period: June-August
Moisture Req.: Dry to Medium
  • Deer resistant.
  • Threatened and endangered in 5 states.
  • Beneficial to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies and moths including:
    • Monarch Butterflies
    • Unexpected and Delicate Cycnia Moths
    • Milkweed Tussock Moths
    • area Katydids
  • Has a thick woody taproot that goes several feet deep. 
  • Difficult to transplant once established.
  • Can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed.
Sullivant’s Milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)
​​Light: Full Sun
Height: 3 ft
Bloom Period: June-July
Moisture Req.: Medium to Medium Wet
  • Deer resistant.
  • Threatened in 3 states.
  • Beneficial to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies and moths including:
    • Monarch Butterflies
    • Unexpected and Delicate Cycnia Moths
    • Milkweed Tussock Moths
    • area Katydids
  • The root system is fleshy and rhizomatous. 
  • Far less aggressive than Common Milkweed, but needs more water.
  • Can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed.
Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata)
​​​Light: Shade to Partial Sun
Height: 5 ft
Bloom Period: June
Moisture Req.: Medium
  • Deer resistant.
  • Listed as Special Concern in Rhode Island.
  • Beneficial to bees and butterflies.
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies and moths including:
    • Monarch Butterflies
    • Unexpected and Delicate Cycnia Moths
    • Milkweed Tussock Moths
    • area Katydids
  • Has thick woody taproot that goes several feet deep.
  • Can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) 
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 3-5 ft
Bloom Period: June-August
Moisture Req.: Dry to Medium Wet
  • Deer resistant.
  • Beneficial to many pollinators
  • Host plant for:
    • Monarch Butterfly caterpillars
    • Milkweed Tussock Moths
    • Unexpected Cycnia moths
    • Delicate Cycnia moths
  • Has a deep tap root. Check out this video on common milkweed roots: https://youtu.be/z5XdBxeKkOI
  • Choose location carefully, spreads by seeds and underground runners.
  • Can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata​)
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 3-4 ft
Bloom Period: June-August
Moisture Req.: Medium to Wet
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to numerous pollinators.
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies and moths including:
    • Monarch Butterflies
    • Unexpected and Delicate Cycnia Moths
    • Milkweed Tussock Moths
    • area Katydids
  • Sweet fragrance.
  • The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Colonies of plants occasionally develop.
  • Can spread by seeds if seedpods are not removed.

Pollinator-Friendly Perennials - host plants for a wide variety of insects

Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana)
​
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 1-2 ft
Bloom Period: June-July
Moisture Req.: Medium Dry to Medium
  • Deer resistant.
  • Beneficial to songbirds, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
  • Host plant for:
    • Hermit Sphinx Moth
    • Pink-patched Looper Moth
    • Gray Marvel Moth
  • It has a wonderful minty/oregano smell.
  • The root system is rhizomatous. Dense colonies may form from the rhizomes. 
  • Susceptible to powdery mildew.
Longleaf Bluets (Houstonia longifolia)
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 6 inches
Bloom Period: June
Moisture Req.:  Prefers dry gravelly soil
  • Deer resistant
  • Endangered or of special concern in 3 states.
  • Beneficial to small bees.
  • Host plant for the Spotted Thyris.
  • Does not tolerate competition.
  • The roots are long and fibrous.
  • Spreads by seed.
Early Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides​) 
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 3-5 ft
Bloom Period: June-Sept
Moisture Req.: Medium Dry to Medium Wet
  • Deer Resistant
  • Easy to grow.
  • Beneficial to many pollinators and seeds provide food for birds.
  • Host plant for two species of moths.
  • The root system is fibrous.
  • Spread by seed.
Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) - NOT AVAILABLE
​Light: Full Sun to Shade
Height: 18 inches
Bloom Period: May - June
Moisture Req.: Dry to Medium Wet
  • Deer resistant.
  • Endangered of special concern in 3 states.
  • Beneficial to many kinds of bees and hummingbirds.
  • Host plant for 10 species of butterflies and moths including:
    • Common Buckeye Butterfly
    • Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly.
  • The root system is fibrous
  • Spread by seed.
Short’s Aster (Symphyotrichum shortii)​
​Light: Shade to Part Sun
Height: 3 ft
Bloom Period: August to October
Moisture Req.: Dry to Medium Dry
  • Threatened in Minnesota.
  • Provides nectar late in the season for many pollinators including bees and butterflies.
  • Beneficial to birds also.
  • Host plant for 12 species of butterflies and moths including:
    • Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly
    • Pearl Crescent Butterfly
    • Asteroid Moth
  • The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Colonies ofplants occasionally develop from rhizomes.
  • Also spreads by seed.
Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata​) 
​Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 2 ft
Bloom Period:  May-June
Moisture Req.: Medium Dry to Dry
  • Deer resistant
  • Beneficial to birds, bees and butterflies.
  • Host plant for six species of moths.
  • Extremely easy to grow. 
  • The root system is fibrous and short rhizomatous. Dense colonies may form from the rhizomes.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea​)
Light: Full to Part Sun
Height: 3-4 ft
Bloom Period: Late June-July
Moisture Req.: Medium Dry to Medium Wet
  • Deer resistant
  • Endangered or extirpated in 2 states
  • Beneficial for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and songbirds.
  • Host plant for:
    • Silvery Checkerspot
    • several varieties of moths.
  • The root system is fibrous and short rhizomatous. Small colonies of plants may form from the rhizomes. 
Complete the form below to reserve your FREE plants.
There are limited number of plants available. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last.​

Plants will be available for pickup at Christ the King on Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 10 am - 1:30 pm.
    You may choose to reserve up to THREE plants of any variety.
Christ the King Lutheran Church
7393 Dimmick Rd., West Chester, OH  45069
Office: (513) 777-4370