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A project of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Challenges

July EcoQuest

July

Milkweeds for Monarchs

Milkweed plants are host plants for Monarch butterflies. This means that the larva, or caterpillars, of Monarch butterflies require milkweed leaves as a food source.

Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, has opposite leaves, white milky sap, and globes of pink flowers.

Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, has alternate leaves, clear sap, and clusters of orange flowers.

Help Budburst find these two important Chicagoland native milkweeds!

Knock out Knotweed

Japanese knotweed, Reynoutria japonica, has smooth, hollow stems, oval leaves with tapered tips, and small, white flowers.

It spreads quickly pushing out native plants as it forms a dense patch, posing a significant threat because it reproduces rapidly and can survive a variety of weather conditions.

Help Budburst find this invasive plant so that it can be better controlled!

How to observe and report

1

Sign into your Budburst account

2

Make your observation by taking a photo of your subject

3

Upload your observation to our database via the Budburst mobile or desktop app

Do your part for our planet. Join Budburst today.

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