The monarch butterfly population in the eastern United States has declined sharply — an estimated 80% loss since the 1990s.

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is one of the tamer milkweeds with lots of ornamental appeal. This adaptable milkweed is hardy in zones 3-10 and was named the 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year.

There are other types of milkweed available as well, including the multicolored tropical milkweed (Asclepias ... can fit in ...