Butterfly Gardening
in Central Florida
by Sharon LaPlante
Attracting
butterflies to your backyard is not only rewarding, it is also easier than you
may think. This is because the
plants that are an integral part of a butterfly's life cycle are all around us
in nature as well as in our landscape. Taking
advantage of this natural occurrence saves the butterfly gardener time, money,
and labor. Native wildflowers
such as Spanish needle and lyre leaf sage are invaluable nectar sources for
feeding adult butterflies. Other
wildflowers - mistakenly considered useless weeds by many; everlasting and
toadflax, are regular volunteers in tended flowerbeds and will provide larval
food without any work on the part of the gardener.
By simply making room for the plants they require, the butterfly
gardener is rewarded with an abundance of these beautiful creatures to study,
photograph, or just enjoy.
Butterflies
require two entirely different types of plants in order to complete their life
cycle.
Flower
nectar is the preferred food choice of most adult butterflies, however some
species also take advantage of tree sap, fermenting fruit, and even carrion.
When planting nectar plants, keep in mind that adult butterflies need
sunlight in order to warm their wings for flight.
Therefore, place the majority of nectar plants in a sunny location to
assist them as they prepare for takeoff.
Black butterflies, such as the zebra longwing, actually seem to prefer
feeding, or nectaring, in shady areas much more frequently than their lighter
counterparts. This is because
their dark color absorbs heat more readily thus enabling them to be active
sooner in the day as well as on cooler days.
Knowing this, the butterfly gardener should locate some nectar plants
in the shade as well as in sunny areas to satisfy all the nectar-seeking
visitors. Florida butterflies are
active most of the year so it is also important to utilize a variety of plant
species. This keeps your garden
producing blooms throughout the seasons, ensuring a continuous supply
of nectar - even in winter.
The
female butterfly searches out the proper host plant on which to lay her eggs
by tasting each plant with sensors on her feet.
Once the correct host plant is located, she will typically lay her eggs
on its tips where the tender new growth is found. Each species of butterfly uses a particular plant or family
of plants to nourish its young and will only lay eggs on those plants.
Growing an abundance and variety of larval food plants will attract and
support the largest variety of butterflies.
Planting larval foods in several locations throughout your landscape
will also ensure that a particular plant, or plants, will not be defoliated as
quickly and will 'bounce back' faster with new growth.
Caterpillars feed continuously and voraciously for a few weeks until
they have completed several molts, or instars, and are mature enough to
pupate. Most will move away from
the host plant to nearby foliage or structures on which to complete this last
stage of their larval life. Some
butterflies, however, may stay and pupate on the host plant, while others
descend into the leaf litter to accomplish this feat.
Once pupated, the organism has developed a very hard outer covering,
called a chrysalis, wherein metamorphosis takes place, and in approximately
two weeks an adult butterfly will emerge to trigger a repeat of an amazing
life cycle.
A
butterfly's water requirements are usually met in the form of raindrops, water
droplets, and moist soils and mulches. Routine
watering in the butterfly garden is generally more than adequate to fulfill
their moisture needs. Watering
the flower beds on hot days will usually result in several butterflies landing
to drink from the moist soil or mulch. A
butterfly drinks by uncoiling its proboscis and laying it in the crevices of
the mulch, or along the edge a water droplet, drawing water through the tube
shaped tongue. Butterflies can
often be seen drinking, or puddling, from mud puddles and areas of
concentrated livestock urine in order to obtain required salts and minerals as
well as water.
Shelter
requirements are generally met once the butterfly garden is established.
Adult butterflies seek mature foliage for protection from inclement
weather, predators, or merely to rest. Butterfly
houses are very attractive in the garden, but unfortunately, at least for the
author, do not seem to entice butterflies into the confined space that they
provide. Butterflies prefer
shrubs or trees with large leaves which give them adequate cover and an easy
escape route if threatened with predation.
Some species roost communally which can make a seemingly lifeless shrub
silently explode with flitting butterflies when disturbed.
Take advantage of the wonderful native
plants that Florida has to offer and you automatically provide for many of our
beautiful native butterflies. My
humble garden becomes absolutely crowded at times with these fascinating
animals. With minimal
SWALLOWTAILS | ||
Black Swallowtail |
Apiaceae or Celery family |
wild chervil (Chaerophyllum tainturieri) wild carrot (Daucus pusillis) bishop's weed (Ptilimnium capillaceum) |
Giant Swallowtail |
Rutaceae or Citrus family |
hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata) prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum) Hercules's
club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) |
Palamedes Swallowtail |
Lauraceae or Laurel family |
spicebush (Lindera benzoin) pond spice (Litsea aestivalis) red bay (Persea borbonia) swamp bay (Persea palustris) |
Pipevine Swallowtail |
Aristolochiaceae or Birthwort family |
Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria) wooly pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) |
Polydamas Swallowtail |
Aristolochiaceae or Birthwort family |
Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria) wooly pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) |
Spicebush Swallowtail |
Lauraceae or Laurel family |
spicebush (Lindera benzoin) pond spice (Litsea aestivalis) red bay (Persea borbonia) swamp bay (Persea palustris) |
Tiger Swallowtail |
Magnoliaceae or Magnolia family |
tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana) |
Zebra Swallowtail | Annonaceae or Custard apple family |
slim-leaf pawpaw (Asimina angustifolia) flag pawpaw (Asimina obovata) pawpaw (Asimina reticulata) |
WHITES | ||
Checkered White |
Brassicaeae or Mustard family |
peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) |
European Cabbage White |
Brassicaeae or Mustard family |
peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) |
Great Southern White |
Brassicaeae or Mustard family |
American sea rocket (Cakile edentula) coastal sea rocket (Cakile lanceolata) peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) |
SULPHURS (a partial listing of species in our area) |
||
Barred Sulphur |
Fabaceae or Pea family |
shy leaf (Aeschynomene americana) sticky vetch (Aeschynomene viscidula) pencil flower (Stylosanthus biflora) |
Cloudless Sulphur |
Fabaceae or Pea family |
shy leaf (Aeschynomene americana) sticky vetch (Aeschynomene viscidula) pencil flower (Stylosanthus biflora) |
Dainty Sulphur |
Asteraceae or Aster family |
Spanish needles (Bidens alba) |
BLUES |
||
Cassius Blue |
Fabaceae or Pea family |
Elliott's milk pea (Galactia elliottii) Eastern milk pea (Galactia regularis) |
Ceraunus Blue |
Fabaceae or Pea family |
alicia
(Chapmannia floridana)
Elliott's milk pea (Galactia elliottii) Eastern milk pea (Galactia regularis) tropical puff (Neptunia pubescens) |
Eastern Pygmy blue |
Chenopodiaceae or Glasswort family |
annual glasswort (Salicornia bigelovii) perennial glasswort (Salicornia perennis) |
HAIRSTREAKS (a partial listing of species in our area) |
||
Gray Hairstreak |
Fabaceae or Pea family |
partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) sensitive pea (Chamaecrista nictitans) wild sensitive plant (Senna ligustrina) wild sensitive plant (Senna marilandica) |
Great Purple Hairstreak |
Viscaceae or Mistletoe family |
mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) |
Red-banded Hairstreak |
Fagaceae or Beech family |
oaks (Quercus spp.) |
White M Hairstreak |
Fagaceae or Beech family |
oaks (Quercus spp.) |
BRUSHFOOTED BUTTERFLIES |
||
American Painted Lady |
Asteraceae or Aster family |
everlasting (Gamochaeta pensylvanica) narrowleaf everlasting (Gamochaeta falcatum) (synonym Gnaphalium) |
Common Buckeye |
Scrophulariaceae or Figwort family |
false foxglove (Agalinus fasciculata) slender false foxglove (Agalinus tenuifolia) American bluehearts (Buchnera americana) Canada toadflax (Linaria canadensis)
Texas toadflax (Linaria texana) |
Gulf Fritillary |
Passifloriaceae or Passion vine family |
passion vine (Passiflora incarnata) maypop (Passiflora lutea) cork-stem passion vine (Passiflora suberosa) |
Pearl Crescent |
Asteraceae or Aster family |
bushy aster (Aster dumosus) climbing aster (Aster carolinianus) |
Phaon Crescent |
Verbenaceae or Vervain family |
carpetweed (Phyla nodiflora) (synonym Lippia) |
Question Mark |
Ulmaceae or Elm family |
hackberry (Celtis laevigata) winged elm (Ulmus alata) Florida elm (Ulmus americana) |
Red Admiral |
Urticaceae or Nettle family |
false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) Florida pellitory (Parietaria floridana) heartleaf nettle (Urtica chamaedryoides ) |
Red Spotted Purple |
Salicaceae or Willow family |
coastal plain willow (Salix caroliniana) Florida willow (Salix floridana) |
Variegated Fritillary |
Passifloriaceae or Passion vine family |
passion vine (Passiflora incarnata) maypop (Passiflora lutea) cork-stem passion vine (Passiflora suberosa) |
Viceroy |
Salicaceae or Willow family |
coastal plain willow (Salix caroliniana) Florida willow (Salix floridana) |
White Peacock |
Scrophulariaceae or Figwort family |
lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana) herb-of-grace (Bacopa monnieri) |
Zebra Longwing |
Passifloriaceae or Passion vine family |
passion vine (Passiflora incarnata) maypop (Passiflora lutea) cork-stem passion vine (Passiflora suberosa) |
HACKBERRY BUTTERFLIES |
||
Hackberry |
Ulmaceae or Elm family |
hackberry (Celtis laevigata) winged elm (Ulmus alata) Florida elm (Ulmus americana) |
Tawny Emperor |
Ulmaceae or Elm family |
hackberry (Celtis laevigata) winged elm (Ulmus alata) Florida elm (Ulmus americana) |
MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES |
||
Monarch |
Asclepiadaceae or Milkweed family |
milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) white vine (Sarcostemma clausum) |
Queen |
Asclepiadaceae or Milkweed family |
milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) white vine (Sarcostemma clausum) |
Soldier |
Asclepiadaceae or Milkweed family |
milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) white vine (Sarcostemma clausum) |
SATYR BUTTERFLIES (a partial listing of species in our area) |
||
Carolina Satyr |
Poaceae or Grass family |
wood oats (Chasmanthium spp.) crown grass (Paspalum spp.) |
SNOUT BUTTERFLY |
||
Snout butterfly |
Ulmaceae or Elm family |
hackberry (Celtis laevigata) winged elm (Ulmus alata) Florida elm (Ulmus americana) |
SKIPPERS (a partial listing of species in our area) |
||
Giant yucca skipper |
Agavaceae or Agave family |
Adam's needle (Yucca filamentosa) |
Long tailed skipper |
Fabaceae or Pea family |
beggarweed (Desmodium spp.) |
WILDFLOWERS | ||||||
Botanical Name | Common Name | Light | Moisture | Flower | Blooming | Size |
Asclepias incarnata | swamp milkweed | sun | avg-moist | pink | sp, su & fall | 3 ft |
Asclepias tuberosa | butterfly milkweed | sun | avg-dry | orange-red | sp, su & fall | 2 ft |
Balduina angustifolia | yellow buttons | sun | avg-dry | yellow | sp, su & fall | 3 ft |
Bidens alba | Spanish needles | sun-pt sh | avg | white | all year | 3 ft |
Carphephorus corymbosum | Florida paintbrush | sun | avg-dry | lavender | su & fall | 3 ft |
Cnidoscolus stimulosus | tread-softly | sun-pt sh | avg-dry | white | all year | 2 ft |
Elephantopus elata | elephant's foot | sun-pt sh | avg-dry | lavender | su & fall | 3 ft |
Gaillardia pulchella | blanket flower | sun | avg-dry | red-yellow | all year | 2 ft |
Garberia heterophylla | garberia | sun-pt sh | avg-dry | lavender | su & fall | 6
ft
|
Glandularia tampensis | Tampa vervain | sun-pt sh | avg-moist | lavender | sp, su & fall | 2 ft |
Guara angustifolia | southern guara | sun | avg-dry | pink-white | all year | 5 ft |
Ipomopsis rubra | standing cypress | sun | avg-dry | orange-red | su & fall | 3 ft |
Lachnanthes caroliniana | redroot | sun-pt sh | moist-wet | off white | sp, su & fall | 3 ft |
Liatris gracilis | graceful blazing star | sun-pt sh | avg-dry | lavender | su, fall | 3 ft |
Lobelia cardinalis | cardinal flower | sun -pt sh | moist-wet | red | su & fall | 6 ft |
Piloblephis rigida | false pennyroyal | sun | avg-dry | lavender | wtr & sp | 2 ft |
Ruellia caroliniensis | wild petunia | sun-pt sh | avg | blue-purple | sp, su & fall | 2 ft |
Salvia coccinea | red salvia | sun-pt sh | avg | red | all year | 3 ft |
Stokesia laevis | Stoke's aster | sun | avg-moist | blue-purple | sp, su & fall | 2 ft |
Verbesina virginica | frostweed | sun-pt sh | avg | white | su, fall | 6 ft |
Vernonia angustifolia | ironweed | sun-pt sh | avg | purple | su, fall | 4 ft |
SHRUBS | ||||||
Botanical Name | Common Name | Light | Moisture | Flower | Blooming | Size |
Cephalanthus occidentalis | buttonbush | sun-pt sh | moist | off white | sp, su & fall | 10 ft |
Cordia globosa | bloodberry | sun-pt sh | avg | white | sp, su & fall | 5
ft |
Erythrina herbacea | coral bean | sun-pt sh | avg-dry | red | spring | 4 ft |
Hamelia patens | firebush | sun | avg-moist | orange-red | all year | 15 ft |
Rhododendron canescens | wild azalea | pt shade | moist | pink | spring | 15 ft |
Rhododendron viscosum | swamp azalea | pt shade | moist | white | summer | 15 ft |
Rubus cuneifolius | sand blackberry | sun | avg-dry | white | wtr & sp | 6 ft |
Rubus trivialis | southern dewberry | sun | avg-dry | white | wtr & sp | 3 ft |
Vaccinium corymbosum | highbush blueberry | sun-pt sh | avg-moist | white | spring | 10
ft |
TREES | ||||||
Botanical Name | Common Name | Light | Moisture | Flower | Blooming | Size |
Aesculus pavia | buckeye | pt-shade | avg-moist | red | spring | 36 ft |
Aralia spinosa | devil's walking stick | pt-shade | avg | off white | summer | 30 ft |
Prunus americana | American plum | pt-shade | avg | white | spring | 30 ft |
Prunus angustifolia | chickasaw plum | pt-shade | avg | white | spring | 24 ft |
Prunus umbellata | flatwoods plum | pt-shade | avg | white | spring | 24 ft |
Vaccinium arboreum | sparkleberry | pt-shade | avg | white | spring | 30 ft |
VINES | ||||||
Botanical Name | Common Name | Light | Moisture | Flower | Blooming | Size |
Bignonia capreolata | cross vine | sun-pt sh | avg | red | spring | variable |
Campsis radicans | trumpet vine | sun-pt sh | avg | orange-red | sp, su, fall | variable |
Ipomoea cordatotriloba | morning glory | sun | avg | lavender | sp, su, fall | variable |
Ipomoea hederifolia | scarlet morning glory | sun-pt sh | avg | red | sp, su, fall | variable |
Ipomoea pes-caprae | railroad vine | sun | avg-dry | lavender | sp, su, fall | variable |
Lonicera sempervirens | coral honeysuckle | pt shade | avg | red | sp - su | variable |
Recommended
reading:
Ajilvsgi,
Geyata. Butterfly
Gardening for the South.
Taylor Publishing: Dallas, TX.
1990
Emmel,
Thomas. Florida's
Fabulous Butterflies.
World Publications: Tampa, FL.
1997
Glassberg,
J., Marc Minno, & John Calhoun
Butterflies Through Binoculars: Florida.
Oxford University Press
2000
Huegel,
C. Butterfly
Gardening with Florida's Native Plants.
Florida Native Plant Society: Orlando, FL.
1992
Minno,
Marc & Maria.
Florida Butterfly Gardening.
University Press of Florida: Gainesville, FL.
1999
Taylor,
Walter Kingsley.
The Guide to Florida Wildflowers.
Taylor Publishing: Dallas, TX
1992
Wunderlin,
Richard P. Guide
to the Vascular Plants of Florida.
University Press of Florida: Gainesville, FL.
1998
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