Jun 24, 2026 - News

Tennessee relaunches popular effort to save monarch butterflies

Adam Tamburin

Monarch butterfly on a milkweed plant flower — Monarchs love milkweed, as seen here. Photo: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

Bring on the butterflies: The Tennessee Department of Transportation is relaunching its annual effort to protect vulnerable monarch butterflies by sending free milkweed seeds to anyone who wants them.

Why it matters: Milkweed is a vibrant wildflower that serves as both a habitat and food source for the threatened monarch population.

But in 2023, the state estimated milkweed habitats had declined about 90% over the last 30 years.

State of play: TDOT launched the Project Milkweed initiative in 2023 to regrow those habitats. Since then, the agency has distributed hundreds of thousands of seed packets statewide.

By the numbers: Last year, TDOT shipped out more than 93,000 seed packets, fulfilling more than 18,000 requests.

How it works: Residents can order red or common milkweed seed varieties online while supplies last. (They usually run out.)

What's new: For the first time this year, residents can also order a native wildflower and herb blend, featuring 10 varieties of native plants, including the state wildflowers — passion flower and coneflower.

The big picture: Project Milkweed is part of TDOT's Pollinator Habitat Program, which launched in response to a sharp decline of pollinators, including butterflies and bees, caused by development-driven habitat loss, pesticides and other threats.

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Tennessee relaunches popular effort to save monarch butterflies

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