Monarch Watch Waystation Certification

How to Apply

1. 1

   Plant milkweed native to your region

   Choose a milkweed species native to your area. Monarch Watch strongly recommends avoiding tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) in most of the US due to its effect on migration behavior.

   Monarch Watch milkweed resources
2. 2

   Add nectar plants that bloom across seasons

   Plant natives that flower from early spring through late fall to support adult monarchs at multiple points in their migration. Coneflowers, native sages, and native asters are good starting points.

3. 3

   Complete the online registration

   Visit the Monarch Watch shop and complete the Waystation Certification Application. The $18 non-refundable fee covers processing and adds your habitat to the online registry.

   Register your Waystation ($18)
4. 4

   Receive your Certificate of Recognition

   Monarch Watch mails a Certificate of Recognition with your name and assigned Waystation ID. The registry is updated periodically and can take several weeks to reflect your new listing. The aluminum sign is a separate purchase from the Monarch Watch shop.

What counts as a Monarch Waystation?

A Monarch Waystation is any site that provides two things monarchs need to complete their migration: milkweed for egg-laying and caterpillar feeding, and nectar plants for adult monarchs. Waystations can be front yards, back yards, school gardens, or any maintained patch of ground. There is no published minimum size, but the planting must be intentional and kept free of pesticides that harm monarchs.

• At least one milkweed species (Asclepias) as the host plant for caterpillars
• Nectar-producing plants that bloom from spring through fall
• No pesticides that harm monarchs or milkweed

Which plants qualify?

Milkweed is the only plant monarchs use to lay eggs and feed caterpillars. Native species vary by region: Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) and Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) are widely native to eastern and central US. In Texas, Asclepias tuberosa and Asclepias asperula are common choices. Monarch Watch and the Xerces Society discourage tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) outside its native range because it can interfere with migration. For nectar, native wildflowers, coneflowers, and native sages that bloom across multiple seasons are ideal.

Will an HOA restrict a Monarch Waystation?

A Monarch Watch Waystation registration is documentation from a University of Kansas conservation program. Some homeowners bring the certificate to HOA architectural review meetings as evidence their garden serves an ecological purpose. The registration does not override HOA rules, but it demonstrates intentional cultivation rather than a neglected yard. States like Texas (§202.007), California (Civil Code §4735), and Colorado (HB 23-1152) limit HOA authority over native and drought-tolerant landscaping. A well-maintained, neatly edged Waystation planting is harder for an HOA to challenge on appearance grounds.