The other weed being legalized in Columbus thanks to a code fix

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An "indispensable" plant for monarch butterflies was banned from planting thanks to a typo in Columbus' housing code, but that will change with a recently approved amendment.

Days before recreational marijuana sales launched Tuesday, Columbus City Council approved a change last week to the housing code, clarifying its definition of weeds to exclude milkweed. The plant previously had its designation as a weed removed from the health, sanitation and safety code in 2017 but was left in the housing code in error.

Milkweed has dozens of species native to the state, according to Maureen Bogdanski of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. The plant is known for its environmental benefits, such as its role in facilitating pollination.

"They're very good for pollinators," Bogdanski said. "Monarch butterflies use them as a host plant, which means they can't as larvae eat any other plant to survive."

Bogdanski said if milkweed were to go extinct, it's highly likely the monarch butterfly would follow. But as far back as 2008, Columbus' housing code held a stance against the plant. A preserved copy from the National Center for Healthy Housing showed the city defined milkweed as a "noxious weed," right alongside poison ivy and jimson weed, for creating "an unhealthy or unsafe condition."

The Toledo Blade reported its city had similarly held milkweed on its list of noxious weeds but removed it in 2018. While milkweed was also removed from Columbus' noxious weeds list seven years ago, Councilmember Chris Wyche said the housing code still prohibiting it was brought to the council's attention by a concerned Columbus resident.

"We really only discovered this was an issue because at the beginning of the month we had a resident come out during public comment period," Wyche said. "He was upset that he planted milkweed, yet he was receiving code violations for having it planted."

Now, Columbus homeowners in the same situation will be allowed to grow milkweed in their pollinator gardens, according to Wyche. Residents will no longer be given code violations if the plant is found in their yards.

"[Monarch butterflies] are an endangered species at this point," Wyche said. "We know due to climate change, pesticides, invasive species, even government regulations, that our pollinators are struggling."

In April, Chief Botanist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Rick Gardner listed the plants native to the state residents could grow in their gardens and yards. Milkweed was one of more than 15 plants he listed. ODNR also previously published "Milkweeds & Monarchs" to better illustrate their relationship, and a clarification regarding the plant's subspecies.

"If you plant milkweed, avoid using tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, which is often sold as an ornamental plant attractive to monarchs," the agency wrote. "It is indigenous from southern Mexico. … Stick to species native to Ohio, or whatever region you live in."

For anyone interested in learning more about milkweed, Bogdanski said the plant can be found at any of the division's nature preserves.

"We have multiple preserves across the state, 147 preserves," Bogdanski said. "They each would likely have a species of milkweed to observe."