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