Milkweed named Plant of the Year

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has declared milkweed as the department’s Rare Plant Monitoring Program’s 2025 Plant of the Year on Wednesday, encouraging people to plant milkweed to help monarch butterflies survive. Milkweed plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of monarch butterflies, particularly during the spring and summer months in Wisconsin because it is the sole plant on which monarchs lay their eggs and the only food source for monarch caterpillars. Out of the 13 native milkweed species in Wisconsin, five are classified as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. For those interested in planting milkweed, the DNR provides resources on native plant sales and nurseries across the state on their Native Plants webpage.