Hello everybody !!! Since I started getting butterflies ( Gulf Fritillaries) on my garden every day due to my passion flowers I've been wanting to do a butterfly garden. Here is the problem. I have no idea as to what plants to get. I did get some Butterfly weeds since I saw the Monarchs at Home Depot love to deposit eggs on them and the caterpillar much on them like crazy but other than that I have no idea. HELP PLEASE !!! Total newbie. Would love to have perrenials or reseeding annuals as well as some low growing shrubs and can do a couple of vines. Thank you for any imput that will guide me in the right direction.
Happy gardening;
Rolando
List of host and nectar plants for butterflies in S. Florida
Sounds like you're off to a good start just by being observant.
http://www.miamiblue.org/ has an extensive list. (Maybe more than you want to know right now - don't let your head explode.) Folks here from your area can get you started better than me, but I did want to mention trees. We sort of think of "flowers" as little annuals or perennial fobs, but nectar or host seeking insects have a little broader perspective. Live oaks, all sorts of citrus, banyan, locust trees. And grasses (not that creepy imported pampas stuff though). So if you're trying to attract butterflies, it doesn't have to be one set-aside flower bed, you can make the other parts of your landscaping work, too.
Have fun! Keep us posted...
Since I can't afford to get a bunch of plants I will appreciate and seeds or plants that I could get. I can pay postage with no problems. My goal is to have a nice garden for the winged creatures. I would like anything that can grow in the South Florida heat and doesn't need to be watered daily. I do my best to water every morning but in between school and work and shores around the house I might skip one day. Anything will be appreciated. Thank you very much !!!
realbirdlady thank you for the link. There are a lot of butterflies that I had no idea would come down to South Florida. I'm excited to get the garden started.
I can send you some milkweed seeds. Don't worry about postage. I also have zinnia seeds which my butterflies LOVE. D-Mail me your address and I will send them out.