The sale of tropical milkweed has been a major problem, as the demand by the public to find milkweed to help monarch butterflies means that nurseries are in search of easy to stock options for their customers.

Now, thanks to the advocacy of the Marin Monarch Working Group, the County of Marin announced a ban of the sale of tropical milkweed at all nurseries effective August 24th! Nurseries in Marin will be required to only sell native milkweed varieties including narrowleaf and showy milkweed.

This is an important step to support the western monarch butterfly in Marin County. Native milkweeds are adapted to the life-cycle and rhythm of the butterflies migration as it becomes dormant in the fall. This is a natural signal for the butterfly to make its winter migration to the coast.

Over the next several months, Marin Monarch Working Group partners will be planning to help the local nurseries to ensure that they have enough native narrowleaf and showy milkweed to sell.