Due to forecasted storms, free sand for sandbags is now available on a first-come, first-serve basis at nine City of Phoenix parks.
Monarch
Join the City of Phoenix in Our Pledge to Help the Monarch Butterfly!
Join the 12 City of Phoenix departments working to conserve the monarch butterfly population and support overall pollinator populations. From expanding habitat on city-owned property, to hosting community events, and providing resources and information to our community, the City of Phoenix is committed to helping our pollinators survive and thrive.
You can join us and add your actions to ours. It's simple - plant native milkweed and nectar plants to give these beautiful butterflies what they need. Native plants are essential for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators, while also supporting our Sonoran Desert biodiversity, beautifying our properties, and conserving water. From a pot on a balcony to a whole yard, every native plant we add makes a difference for our pollinators and for us. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @PHXEnvironment and let us know what you did to help the monarch butterfly using #PlantingforMonarchs
Scroll down the webpage to discover more ways to help and find free resources for download in English and Spanish, including the popular Sonoran Desert Pollinator Plant Guide.
Resources for Download
- Activity Book - Monarchs & Milkweed: Nature's Magic!
- Libro de Actividades - Monarcas y algodoncillo: ¡La Magia de la Naturaleza!
- Color, do a word search, and more while learning about monarch butterflies!
- Sonoran Desert Pollinator Plant Guide
- Desierto de Sonoran Guía de Plantas para Polinizadores
- This guide offers native plant ideas along with tips for planting, maintenance, and water.
Want to level up? Combine this plant guide with the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Handbook for Residents (available for download) and learn how to use stormwater to help water your native plants!
Monarch Conservation
Phoenix joined the Mayor's Monarch Pledge in 2021 to help support their multi-generation, 3,000-mile-long migration. Keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful butterflies in the Fall through Spring in Phoenix. This species is struggling due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, but we can help.
Planted a Pollinator Garden? Consider registering a monarch waystation or pollinator pathway:
View the Mayor's 2021 Monarch Proclamation
Resources
- Participate in monarch butterfly mapping citizen science
- Participate in milkweed mapping citizen science
- Southwest Monarch Study
- Desert Botanical Garden - Monarch ButterFlies and Milkweeds
- Pollinator Conservation Resources: Southwest Region
- AZ Monarch Collaborative Native Plant Sources
- Xerces Society Managing for Monarchs in the west
- National Wildlife Federation
- Monarch Joint Venture
- Maricopa Native Seed Library
- Monarch Education Resources
Ideas or suggestions? Email oepinfo@phoenix.gov with “monarch" in the subject line
Photograph by William Vann