I bought a house last year in central florida with a butterfly garden already in the back. Most of the plants died over the winter so I am attempting to bring it back to life. I have planted lantana, butterfly bush, milkweed and there some other plants that keep springing up on their own. I have no butterflies coming around. Last year it was so busy with little bugs flying in and out. Any suggestions?
I have great success with Gaillardia, Stonecrops, Marigolds, Shasta daisies and Centaurea.
Thank you! I'll look into these flowers. The pictures I saw online of them are beautiful.
Gaillardia is an excellent recommendation for Florida. The three flowers that draw the most butterflies in my yard are Echinacea (Coneflowers), Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) and Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon). Angelonia and Gaillardia are also "bee magnets" in Florida, which is a very good thing.
Jon
I wish we could have Angelonia but they aren't hardy here.
Thanks for all the replies! I'm writing it all down :)
I found that I love gardening. It the most relaxing part of my week and my three year old is astonished with all the plant growing from seeds she put in the dirt.
I believe you're correct. They're listed as hardy in Zones 10 -11. The most commonly sold ones in South Florida are the "Serena Series". Personally I prefer the "Angelface Series" put out by Proven Winners, but they're very hard to find down here. They're just larger, sturdier and have bigger blooms in comparison to Serena Angelonias. I've only seen them available twice in the last four years and they sell out very very fast.
Sometimes it's hard to find Echinacea/Coneflower plants in Florida. They're generally more available at private garden centers and not so much at Lowes or Home Depot. Echinacea is actually an herb, so sometimes you can find small "Purple Coneflower" plants in "Bonnie's Plants" containers in the herb section at Lowes and Home Depot. Purple Coneflower was the original pink colored Coneflower, but now there are fancier hybrids that come in many different colors (white, yellow, orange, red, more pinks, lavender, apricot, lime green. Coincidentally I just happened to take this photo last week of a red colored Echinacea/Coneflower named "Sundown" with a visitor on it.
Jon
Gardening is how I unwind, Cmferguson. Even in winter, I find an excuse to go out and see what's up out there.
Cool pic, Amorecuore!
Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to put more shrubs out there and some large rocks. I think they may need a little more coverage... I noticed several families are cardinals and mocking birds nearby that I think could be deterring the butterflies.
Birds eat the butterflies, so that may be why you don't see any! hahaha. You could always plant those plants in containers then move them to shelter during the winter. OR cover them with frost cloth. I have a butterfly garden & have done all of that with no losses. I also plant zinnia, salvia & basil. The butterflies love the zinnia. Milkweed is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly so watch for eggs/caterpillars, as your area gets the Monarch.
Don't forget to put out a "puddling" bowl/basin & keep it moist. A "puddling" basin is a shallow dish filled with sand & you keep it moist..butterflies love it for it's minerals.
once you get your garden going, you'll find that the birds and butterflies co-exist quite nicely. you should pick up the Southern Living Garden Book (amazon is the cheapest). you'll find that as you become more experienced in your garden that this book will be your number 1 "go to" book for all things plant related here in the south.
butterfly host plants will attract adults:
milkweed
pipe vine
passion vine
and nectar plants that have tubular flowers:
lantana
salvia
penta
I have just added a Salvia. Hummingbirds have visited it already.
I planted some Salvia and bought some coneflowers and passionflower seeds. They are starting to grow already. I did have a Black Swallowtail visiting yesterday and I watched a Monarch lay some eggs on my Sunflowers (didn't know that could be a host for them!). Lucky me because the sunflowers are kinda growing wild. I didn't have the heart to pull them up. I'm going to put out a puddling area for them. Off to a good start!
I found this pretty little moth flying around... the wings are pink on the inside and orange, black, and white on the outside.. anyone know what it is?
