Milkweed and monarchs in November
Clustering begins
Where the monarchs are
The eastern population arrives in Mexico around the start of the month, traditionally coinciding with Día de los Muertos. The Western Monarch Count runs over the Thanksgiving period, and its numbers are the clearest annual signal of how the western population is faring.
What to do this month
- Keep sowing outdoors until the ground freezes.
- Label everything. Unlabelled milkweed seed is impossible to tell apart.
- Store leftover seed cool, dry and dark. A fridge in a sealed jar gives three to five years.
- Leave leaf litter and standing stems over winter.
What to look for
- Nothing flying in the North. This is a month for records and planning.
- On the California coast, the clusters forming in the groves.
North and south
The Gulf Coast and Florida can still sow through November and December, and resident monarchs may still be breeding there, which is exactly why tropical milkweed should be cut.
In flower in November
4 species can be in flower somewhere in the country this month. Natives are listed first.
| Species | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rush Milkweed | In bloom in January | In bloom in February | In bloom in March | Peak bloom in April | Peak bloom in May | In bloom in June | In bloom in July | In bloom in August | Peak bloom in September | Peak bloom in October | In bloom in November | In bloom in December |
| Whitestem Milkweed | In bloom in January | Peak bloom in February | Peak bloom in March | Peak bloom in April | In bloom in May | Not in bloom in June | Not in bloom in July | Not in bloom in August | Not in bloom in September | Not in bloom in October | In bloom in November | In bloom in December |
| Giant Milkweed introduced | In bloom in January | In bloom in February | Peak bloom in March | Peak bloom in April | In bloom in May | In bloom in June | In bloom in July | In bloom in August | In bloom in September | Peak bloom in October | In bloom in November | In bloom in December |
| Tropical Milkweed introduced | In bloom in January | In bloom in February | In bloom in March | In bloom in April | In bloom in May | Peak bloom in June | Peak bloom in July | Peak bloom in August | Peak bloom in September | In bloom in October | In bloom in November | In bloom in December |
in bloom peak bloom
November questions
What milkweed blooms in November?
4 milkweed species can be in flower somewhere in the United States during November. Bloom times shift several weeks later as you move north.
What are monarch butterflies doing in November?
The eastern population arrives in Mexico around the start of the month, traditionally coinciding with Día de los Muertos. The Western Monarch Count runs over the Thanksgiving period, and its numbers are the clearest annual signal of how the western population is faring.
What should I do in the milkweed garden in November?
Keep sowing outdoors until the ground freezes. Label everything. Unlabelled milkweed seed is impossible to tell apart. Store leftover seed cool, dry and dark. A fridge in a sealed jar gives three to five years.
Cite this page
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Milkweed USA. (2026). Milkweed and monarchs in November. Retrieved DATE, from https://milkweedusa.com/calendar/november/
"Milkweed and monarchs in November." Milkweed USA, 2026, https://milkweedusa.com/calendar/november/. Accessed DATE.
Milkweed USA. "Milkweed and monarchs in November." Last modified 2026-08-01. Accessed DATE. https://milkweedusa.com/calendar/november/.
@misc{milkweedusa_calendarnovember,
title = {Milkweed and monarchs in November},
author = {{Milkweed USA}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://milkweedusa.com/calendar/november/},
note = {Accessed DATE}
}