We’re going to create a butterfly garden. Milkweed is a plant that encourages Monarch Butterflies. I understand that Milkweed is toxic. Does anyone have information about its toxicity for horses? Thanks in advance.
Horses tend to avoid it, but since you should plant the garden where horses can’t get it, there shouldn’t be any issue. Just pull any stray volunteers you find.
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Milkweed is the only plant for butterflies to lay eggs on and without milkweed they can’t reproduce. Yes it is toxic . I have lots of flowering bushes for butterflies but no milkweed and I feel guilty. It is a weed and I may plant some far from the pasture but don’t plant them near a road.
My old farm had some pop up every spring in the pasture and the horses never touched them, still after a good rain I’d hand weeded hem , very easy to weed pull up if you have good soil but get on it so they don’t reproduce.
Sadly every year there are fewer butterflies. They need all the help we can give them as does the rest of the planet…
As someone else said “this is not the planet I was born on” . horrible…
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I have milkweed, monarchs and horses sharing a large pasture - the horses if they have lots of other forage avoid the milkweed. if the horses have no access to the garden you will be fine
For monarchs, not all butterflies.
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Thanks for these responses. The horses won’t be any where near the milkweed. btw… Monarchs also like certain zinnias.
Here’s a site that you can order seeds from: ww.MonarchWatch.org/ws There’s likely a cheaper way to acquire them but the whole project with the sign and all would be fun for kids.
Our dog died last week. I thought I’d turn his grave into a butterfly garden. Here in SoCal we are on the migration route. The decline over the last number of years his horrific. Thanks again.
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:sadsmile::sadsmile::love-struck::love-struck::love-struck:
I love that. I’m so sorry, but what a wonderful way to memorialize him!
I have lots of milkweed in my field (grows everywhere around here). As long as the horses have plenty of other forage, they’ll not touch it.
I’m sorry to hear about your dog and I think a butterfly garden is lovely memorial for him
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Same around here. Horses won’t eat it if they aren’t desperate.
One thing to be aware of - milkweed is very invasive. So keep an eye on it, it will spread rapidly.
I understand that some milkweed is more toxic than others. I need to do a bit more research on that. Thanks again for your responses.
