Showy milkweed is a robust perennial that is pure magic for pollinators – especially butterflies. Its pink, firework-shaped flowers are an incredible nectar source that attracts an array of bees and butterflies, its large blue-green leaves provide food for larval caterpillars, and the plant’s alkaloid compounds boost butterflies’ resistance to predators. In a region with relatively small populations of butterflies, due to our generally cloudy climate, Showy milkweed supports our local butterflies, while rewarding us gardeners with glimpses of their elegance.