Just this once......

I HAD a beautiful Constance Elliott passion vine producing 20-30 flowers per day, lots of fruit coming on, UNTIL the Gulf Fritillaries took over. At first I though it's just a few, I'll let them hang around. Within two weeks the vine is totally gone as the caterpillar army exploded.

As much as I like butterflies flitting around, and hate to nix their chances, next year they can find another host to feed on. I won't sacrifice this much vine next year if this is the result............ There were so many they ate the flowers faster than the bees could get to them.

Hello Chuck, funny that you should show us your passion vine.
I have a Constance Elliot that someone gave me last year and you identified it for me this year.
The same thing happened to my vine, it got very big and the Fritillaries devoured it, giving us a wonderful show of butterflies. It is still alive but not looking good.
I am thrilled that they love it so much, it will regenerate itself, and with it being evergreen it has food for them for a long time, from early spring to fall.
It is not a Texas native passiflora and I was thinking to take out when I found out about it, but after seeing the performance, I just have to leave it there, it is just too valuable for me.
You might plant a second vine in a different spot and transfer the caterpilars to that one, so you can have your flowers and your butterflies too.
Josephine.

Nah, too many other vines I like to give up all my space for passion vines. They can munch on the Constance Elliott, but if the Purple Incensa had come back, I would not have let them gain any ground on that one. With Hyacinth, Corkscrew (doing wonderful for first year), Scarlet Runner, Cypress and Chayote Squash this year, not much room. Planning on adding the Mexican Flame Vine next year. Somewhere the crossvine you gave me is growing as well.

Question on the Fall Blue Aster you gave me. Should they have bloomed by now? It's grown quite large, but looks pretty weak, and has most of the summer.

The Frostweed plant you gave me is showing buds now.

Hello Chuck, the aster blooms in October, and if you trim it back in late Spring, not now, it will stand up a lot better.
The Frostweed seems to be right on schedule, I am glad the plants I gave you are doing well, I have been amazed by the Constance Elliott, I need to propagate that one.
Josephine.

Just dig up the shoots that sprout everywhere..........get part of the white root, toss em in some dirt and keep em moist. Very easy and prolific.

Usually put 4-6 in one pot. I've given about two-three dozen plants away. Dug some big roots and shipped to DG'ers.

Thought I read the aster is some time from blooming.

Thanks