Res. No. 448

Resolution declaring butterfly milkweed as the official wildflower of New York City. 

By Council Members Bottcher and Farías

Whereas, The scientific name of butterfly milkweed is Asclepias tuberosa; and

Whereas, Butterfly milkweed is also commonly known as butterfly weed, pleurisy root or orange milkweed; and

Whereas, Butterfly milkweed is a type of wildflower; and

Whereas, Butterfly milkweed is a perennial plant that can live up to 25 years in the wild; and

Whereas, Butterfly milkweed generally blooms in summer from June through July in New York City; and

Whereas, According to the Xerces Society, the nectar of butterfly milkweed flowers attracts a variety of wildlife, including the native green metallic bee, butterflies such as Fritillaries and Swallowtails, and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. And

Whereas, The leaves of butterfly milkweed are important food sources for other native insects, such as beetles, katydids, and milkweed bugs; and

Whereas, According to the National Wildlife Federation, female Monarchs lay their eggs on the leaves of milkweed plants; and

Whereas, Once hatched, these Monarch caterpillars feed on the leaves of milkweed plants; and

Whereas, Milkweed is the exclusive food source for Monarch butterflies; and

Whereas, The Monarch butterfly would not survive without milkweed plants in the landscape

Whereas, According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Monarch butterfly is listed as globally “vulnerable;” and

Whereas, New York City is along the Atlantic flyway, a migratory route from Canada to Florida for songbirds, seabirds, and birds of prey; and

Whereas, The Monarch, a migratory species, also follows this pathway, traveling over New York City every year from its winter colonies in central Mexico; and                     

Whereas, Butterfly milkweed is native to New York City; and

Whereas, Butterfly milkweed has grown wild in New York City for thousands of years; and
                     Whereas, A researcher from the University of Delaware found that native plants support a larger variety and number of insects than non-native plants; and

Whereas, Native plants such as butterfly milkweed are essential to support the birds, butterflies and pollinators that are also native to New York City; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the Council of the City of New York declares the butterfly milkweed as the official wildflower of New York City.

LS #15671

06/03/24

EHC