The milkweed plant is often debated as either a helpful wildflower or a harmful weed. Its fragrant blooms attract attention, yet many landowners mow it down because it poses risks to livestock. At the same time, milkweed is critical to monarch butterflies, whose survival depends on it. So, is milkweed a friend or foe on your property?
Milkweed Plant Dangers for Livestock
Milkweed is a perennial plant that dies back to the ground each year—it doesn’t produce permanent woody stalks like a shrub. Nevertheless, it’s a robust wildflower, with a thick stalk, large leaves, and delicate yet robust pink blossoms. When portions of the plant are snapped or broken, a thick white sap escapes. The downside is that this sap contains cardiac glycosides or cardenolides—answering the common question, Is milkweed poisonous? Yes, it can be harmful to people and animals. It’s a problem for horses, cows, goats, sheep, chickens—all kinds. Some livestock will avoid eating milkweed when other, better forage sources are available, but if milkweed is present in pastures, it can definitely represent a danger to livestock. Milkweed in hayfields can also present a threat, as the toxins remain even when the plant is dried. On top of all this, milkweed is an aggressive spreader. It’s not technically invasive, but if you have one patch in your fields, you may soon see more.
Why Milkweed Matters
The main benefit lies in the connection between milkweed and monarch butterflies, since it’s the only plant monarch caterpillars can survive on. Of all the thousands of plants in your area and on your property, milkweed is the only plant that monarch caterpillars can eat, survive, and grow on. If monarch butterflies can’t find milkweed to lay their eggs on, the next generation can’t exist. Besides their beauty, monarchs are also excellent pollinators and a valuable piece of the overall ecosystem. And milkweed itself isn’t an unattractive flower, and in fact, the aroma is quite sweet.
Is the Milkweed Plant Good or Bad?
Because of the toxicity threat to livestock, it’s common for farms to mow down patches of milkweed in an attempt to eradicate it from the property. It’s an understandable approach, especially for farms with livestock. However, doing this adds to the ongoing problem of habitat destruction for the monarchs.
One compromise is to grow milkweed for pollinators, along with other nectar sources that support monarchs and native bees. Doing this can provide energy sources for the monarch’s extensive annual migrations. Flowers that bloom in early spring or late fall are especially valuable in this respect. Mix brilliant flowers alongside your garden veggies. Plant a row of sunflowers or other pollinator favorites on field borders. It doesn’t help the monarchs with their egg laying, but it’s a good step toward an ecosystem-friendly farm. Flowers also add aesthetic benefits for humans!
Another workable solution is to permit (or even plant) milkweed in non-production regions of your farm. This could include roadsides, field buffers, and simply areas of the farm that don’t see animal or crop use. Care can be taken to prevent spreading, while still encouraging monarch caterpillars to utilize the critical milkweed leaves to raise the next generation of monarchs.
Milkweed on the Farm: Final Thoughts
The milkweed plant may pose challenges for farms with livestock, but it also plays an irreplaceable role in supporting monarch butterflies and other pollinators. By managing where it grows—such as in field edges, buffers, or non-production areas—you can protect your animals while still preserving this essential wildflower. In the end, the milkweed plant doesn’t have to be an enemy; with balance, it can be both a friend to your land and to the wider ecosystem.
This article about the milkweed plant was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
