Attracting Butterflies in the Home Landscape

Transcription

1 Attracting Butterflies in the Home Landscape Presented by: Jody Wood-Putnam Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Bay County Bay County Horticultural Agent Julie McConnell

2 Florida Butterflies Florida has > 180 species of butterflies, over 120 found in the Panhandle region This diversity makes Florida a great location for butterfly gardening

3 Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden A butterfly garden does not have to be large to be productive A well planned butterfly garden provides for the needs of the butterfly: Food Shelter/Cover Water It should cater to a variety of butterflies The plants in your garden will influence not only which butterflies are attracted to your yard, but those that remain and reproduce 3

4 A Butterfly s Life Cycle: Four Distinct Phases Adult Pupa (chrysalis) Egg Larva (caterpillar)

5 Food Food requirements for both Adults and Larvae should be considered in planning a productive butterfly garden. Adult butterflies Generally feed on flower nectar Attracted to a wide range of flowers Caterpillars Feed on specific host plants, generally natives Host plants for a particular butterfly may be very limited

6 I must be fed too! Caterpillar of Spicebush Swallowtail: Host Plants include Bays (Persea spp.), Sassafras, Spicebush

7 Pentas and Firespike provide nectar for these adult Monarch Butterflies but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Apocynaceae family to include various milkweeds, white twinvine and Florida milkvine

8 Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) provides nectar for these adult Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) or Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana)

9 Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) and Swamp Dogwood (Cornus foemina) provide nectar for these adult Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Aristolochiaceae family including Virginia Snakeroot and Woolly Dutchman s Pipevine

10 Many plants will provide nectar for this adult Giant Swallowtail Butterfly but to complete its life cycle, it needs one of its Larval Host Plants: Rutaceae family to include Common Hoptree, Wild Lime, Hercules-club and cultivated citrus

11 Cuphea and African Blue Basil provide nectar for these adult Long Tail Skippers but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Fabaceae to include Ticktrefoil, American Wisteria (Wisteria americana), Centrosema spp. (includes Butterfly Pea) and Galactia spp. (includes Milkpea)

12 Many plants provide nectar for Palamedes Swallowtails but to complete its life cycle, it needs one of its Larval Host Plants: Bays (Persea spp.)

13 Spanish Nettle and Woody Goldenrod provides nectar for these adult Gulf Frittilary Butterflies but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Passifloraceae family including Maypop and Yellow Passionflower

14 Lantana and Bidens alba provide nectar for this adult Zebra Longwing Butterfly but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Passifloraceae family including Maypop, Corkystem and Yellow Passionflower

15 Many plants can provide nectar for this adult Variegated Fritillary Butterfly but to complete its life cycle, it needs one of its Larval Host Plants which include Passionflowers (Passiflora spp.) and Violets (Viola spp.)

16 Many plants can provide nectar for these adult Common Buckeye Butterflies but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Plantain (Plantago spp.), Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora), Twinflower (Dyschoriste spp.), False Foxglove (Agalinis spp.),toadflax (Linaria spp.) and Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis)

17 Many plants provide nectar for these adult Cloudless Sulphur Butterflies but to complete their life cycle, they need one of their Larval Host Plants: Fabaceae family to include various native/non-native Senna spp., and Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

18 Many plants provide nectar for this adult Gray Hairstreak but to complete its life cycle, it needs one of its Larval Host Plants: Clover (Trifolium spp.), Ticktrefoil (Desmodium spp.), Milkpea (Galactia spp.) and Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

19 North Florida Butterfly Host Plants

20 Host Plants for Monarch Butterflies Include various milkweeds (Asclepias spp.): - Heights vary - Sun - Select native species - Also host plants for Queen Butterflies

21 Host Plants for Cloudless Sulphur Butterflies Include: Candlestick Cassia (Cassia alata) ft height - Sun to Part Sun - Fall to early winter blooming - Usually root hardy, grow fast from seed Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) ft height - Sun to Part Sun - Late summer to early fall blooming - Native wildflower - Also host for Ceraunus Blue, Gray Hairstreak and Little Yellow Butterflies

22 Host Plants for Common Buckeye include: Turkey Tangle, Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) in. height - Part Shade to Sun - Blooms spring through fall - Native perennial wildflower - Also host for Phaon Crescent Butterfly Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) ft. height - Shade to Sun - Blooms spring to late summer/fall - Native perennial wildflower

23 Host Plants for Gulf Frittilary Butterflies include various passionflowers (Passifloraceae family): Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea) Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

24 Host Plants for Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies include various pawpaws (Asimina spp.):

25 Host Plants for Black Swallowtail Butterflies include members of the Apiaceae family to include parsley and fennel:

26 Host Plant for Atala Butterfly: Coontie (Zamia pumila)

27 Other Example Host Plants Sleepy Duskywing, White M Hairstreak - Oaks (Quercus spp.) Great Purple Hairstreak Oak Mistletoe Juniper Hairstreak Red Cedar Eastern Pine Elfin Sand Pine Snout Butterfly Sugarberry Striped Hairstreak Blueberry family Ericaceae Little Metalmark Yellow Thistle Eastern Tailed-BlueGray Hairstreak - Clovers (Trifolium spp.) Checkered White Mustards (Brassicaceae) Dusted Skipper Grasses (Poaceae) Harvester Wooly Aphids on Smilax spp.

28 Nectar Plants for North Florida: Many!

29 Consider Butterfly Nectar Needs throughout the Year Common Buckeye and Long-tailed Skipper: 3 or more generations per year, all year flight season Banded Hairstreak: 1 generation per year, March to May flight season Palamedes Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail and Giant Swallowtail: 3 or more generations per year, Feb to Nov flight season

30 African Iris (Dietes iridioides) ft height - Part Shade to Sun - Flowers Spring through Summer - Evergreen perennial

31 Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis) ft height - Sun - Flowers year round - Sprawling, annual except for mild winters - Native

32 Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.) 1-3 ft. height Sun to part shade Annual to short lived perennials Both Native and Non-Native species

33 Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella) 1-2 ft. height Annual-Perennial Full sun Blooms summer to early fall Native

34 Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.) ft. height Full sun Flowers spring and sporadically through summer/fall Evergreen shrub or small tree

35 Coreopsis (Tickseeds) Coreopsis spp. Height: 1-3 feet Spreads by seeding Many species in Florida, most yellow, one species is pink Full sun Blooms May-July

36 Firespike, Cardinal s Guard (Odontonema strictum) 2 6 ft. height Part shade to part sun Flowers fall/winter Dies to ground in hard frost

37 Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosom) Height: 1 2 ft. Full sun Flowers summer/fall Evergreen, edible

38 Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) 2-6 ft height Perennial, may die back Sun to part shade Fall blooming Several native species

39 Bee Balm, Horsemint, Monarda (Monarda spp.) Spotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata) Height: varies, ~2 feet Perennial Bloom summer/fall Sun or part shade Both native and nonnative species

40 Native Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) 5 20 ft height Filtered shade Flower in spring Native deciduous shrub

41 Pentas (Pentas lanceolata) 3 ft. height Part shade to sun Flower summer through fall Perennial for warm winters; annual otherwise

42 Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) 1-3 ft. height Sun Blooms during Summer Perennial wildflower, make sure from native stock

43 Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Height: feet Full sun to shade Flowers in late winter Small native understory tree

44 St John s Wort, St Andrew s Cross, etc. (Hypericum spp.) Heights vary Generally sun to part sun Generally bloom summer, some through fall Many native species

45 Salvia (Salvia spp.) Height varies Sun to part sun Generally bloom in summer Some native species

46 Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis) ft. height - Prefers full sun - Blooms late spring to early summer - Native perennial wildflower

47 Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa Strigillosa) Up to 1 ft. height Full sun to high shade Mats, possible turf replacement Native wildflower Host plant for Little Sulpher Butterfly

48 Swamp Hibiscus, Scarlet Hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) Height: 7 feet Partial shade to sun Moist to wet soils Flowers in summer Dies back to ground in winter Native perennial wildflower

49 Giant Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) Height: 3-7 feet Partial shade to sun Average to moist soils Flowers in fall Dies back to ground in winter Native perennial wildflower

50 General Comments for Planning a Garden Plant the right plant in the right place - look at mature height/width - check sunlight, soil and water needs - may need a soil test Use contrasts in color, form/shape and texture to advantage Use plants of varying heights and growth habits Consider using native plants (planted under conditions similar to those in the wild); They are adapted to the environment and can be very maintenance-free. Vary plant heights; generally plant larger plants toward the back of a bed Consider how the garden will look in winter

51 Designing your Butterfly Garden Utilize both adult nectar and larval host plants Plan garden in sun to partial shade site Select plants to bloom at different times throughout the year; annuals can be helpful to fill gaps Plant in groupings Plan your garden on paper Don t be hasty in removing weeds

52 ORIGINAL COUNTY EXTENSION BUTTERFLY GARDEN DESIGN (16 ft by 48 ft (two 16 ft X 20 ft plots and one 16 ft X 4 ft plot with 3 ft separation)) L10 N19 N19 N19 N18 N19 N19 N19 N7 L10 L7 N6 N7 N7 L7 L7 N17 N17 N7 N17 N17 N7 N17 N15 N8 N8 N1 Bottlebrush L10 N4 N4 N4 N4 N4 N4 N4 L2 Cassia L10 N11 L1 Kumquat L12 N20 N20 N25 N25 N13 N20 N20 L4 N25 N13 L4 N9 N9 N13 L4 L4 L4 L4 N13 N9 N9 N26 N3 N3 L10 N26 L10 N3 L5 N3 L4 L4 L4 N8 N15 L7 L7 L7 N5 N5 N5 N5 N24 N25 N25 N5 N19 N19 N19 N18 N19 N19 N19 N23 N23 N4 L6 N4 N23 N23 N4 L3 L3 L3 N21 N21 N21 N22 N11 N11 N22 N11 N11 N22 N11 N22 N22 N22 L3b L13 L9 L9 L9 L9 L9 L13 N21 N21 N21 N12 N14 N7 L10 N23 N13 N23 N23 N13 L10 L3b N7 N7 L3b Nectar Plants 1. Bottlebrush Annuals 4. Stokes Aster 5. Salvia Coccinea 6. Various Salvias 7. Pentas 8. Rudbeckia Lancialata 9. Rudbecka 10. Garlic Chives 11. Narrow Leaf Sunflowers 12. Giant Ironweed 13. Lyreleaf Sage 14. Porterweed 15. Firespike Goldenrod 18. Beach Sunflower 19. Garlic Chives 20. African Iris 21. Society Garlic 22. Echinaecea 23. Blue Eyed Grass 24. Dotted Horse Mint 25. Coreopsis 26. Mexican Heather 27. Mexican Sage Larval Host Plants 1. Citrus Giant Swallowtail 2. Candlestick Cassia- Cloudless Sulphur 3. Fennel Black Swallowtail 4. Parsley Black Swallowtail 5. Decorative pot with Frogfruit Buckeye, Phaon Crescent 6. Maypop on free standing trellis Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing 7. Partridge Pea Sulphurs, Grey Hairstreak Milkweeds Monarch, Queen 10. Coontie Atala 11. Wild Petunias Buckeye 12. Corky or Yellow Passionflower on free standing trellis 13. Yellow Thistle

53 ORIGINAL COUNTY EXTENSION BUTTERFLY GARDEN DESIGN In the Winter (16 ft by 48 ft (two 16 ft X 20 ft plots and one 16 ft X 4 ft plot with 3 ft separation)) L10 N8 N8 N8 L10 N4 N4 N4 N4 N4 N4 N4 L10 N21 N21 N21 N21 N21 N21 L10 N19 N19 N19 N1 Bottlebrush N19 N19 N19 N23 L6 N23 L1 Kumquat N19 N19 N19 L10 N20 N20 N19 N19 N19 L10 N23 N4 N23 N4 N4 L12 L10 N13 N20 N13 N13 L5 N20 N13 N23 N13 N23 N23 N13 L10 Nectar Plants 1. Bottlebrush Annuals 4. Stokes Aster 5. Salvia Coccinea 6. Various Salvias 7. Pentas 8. Rudbeckia Lancialata 9. Rudbecka 10. Garlic Chives 11. Narrow Leaf Sunflowers 12. Giant Ironweed 13. Lyreleaf Sage 14. Porterweed 15. Firespike Goldenrod 18. Beach Sunflower 19. Garlic Chives 20. African Iris 21. Society Garlic 22. Echinaecea 23. Blue Eyed Grass 24. Dotted Horse Mint 25. Coreopsis 26. Mexican Heather 27. Mexican Sage Larval Host Plants 1. Citrus Giant Swallowtail 2. Candlestick Cassia- Cloudless Sulphur 3. Fennel Black Swallowtail 4. Parsley Black Swallowtail 5. Decorative pot with Frogfruit Buckeye, Phaon Crescent 6. Maypop on free standing trellis Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing 7. Partridge Pea Sulphurs, Grey Hairstreak Milkweeds Monarch, Queen 10. Coontie Atala 11. Wild Petunias Buckeye 12. Corky or Yellow Passionflower on free standing trellis 13. Yellow Thistle

54 UF/IFAS EXTENSION BAY COUNTY BUTTERFLY GARDEN Created and Maintained by the Master Gardeners - June Bottlebrush Cassia Kumquat Bottlebrush Garden Cassia Garden Kumquat Garden 1. Coontie (L) 2. Annuals 3. Coral Nymph Salvia 4. African Iris 5. Coreopsis 6. Pentas 7. Garlic Chives 8. Dotted Horse Mint 9. Beach Sunflower 10. Bottlebrush 11. Salvia Coccinea 12. Firespike 13. Partridge Pea (L) 14. Rudbecka lancialata 15. Mexican Salvia 16. Goldenrod 1. Stokes Aster 2. Mexican Heather 3. Yellow Passionflower (L) 4. Coreopsis 5. Cassia (L) 6. Maypop (L) 1. Coontie (L) 2. Annuals 3. Frogfruit (L) 4. African Iris 5. Parsley (L) 6. Lyreleaf Sage 7. Echinaecea 8. Blue Eyed Grass 9. Porterweed 10. Kumquat (L) 11. Pentas 12. Giant Ironweed (L) 13. Yellow Thistle (L) 14. Society Garlic 15. Milkweed (L) 16. Narrow Leaf Sunflowers 17. Bronze Fennel (L) 18. Fennel (L)

55 Weeds? Beggarticks, Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

56

57 Weeds? Groundseltree, Saltbush (Baccharis halmifolia)

58 Weeds? Butterfly Pea (Centrosema spp.)

59 Don t Worry about Eaten Leaves This is evidence of the presence of caterpillars and future butterflies

60 Butterfly Garden Maintenance Select appropriate plants (right plant/right place) Fertilize according to plant needs and soil test Avoid pesticides: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) will kill larvae Deadhead to encourage blooming

61 References Various publications from Daniels, Janet C., Schaefer, Joe, Huegel, Craig N. and Mazzotti, Frank J., Butterfly Gardening in Florida, WEC 22, University of Florida IFAS publication, 1990, revised 2008, reviewed Daniels, Janet C., Butterflies of Florida, Adventure Publications, Inc., Traas, Pamela F., Gardening for Florida s Butterflies, Great Outdoors Publishing Company, Glassberg, Jeffrey, Minno, Marc C. and Calhoun, John V., Butterflies through Binoculars A Field, Finding, and Gardening Guide to Butterflies in Florida, Oxford University Press, Minno, Marc C., Butler, Jerry F. and Hall, Donald W., Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and their Host Plants, University Press of Florida, Minno, Marc C. and Minno, Maria, Florida Butterfly Gardening, University Press of Florida, Tallamy, Douglas W., Bringing Nature Home, Timber Press, Inc., Photos by Jody Wood-Putnam

62 Thank You!