I am new to learning butterflies, and have seen many little ones but I think I have recognized a black swallowtail, a giant swallowtail and a monarch in my yard this year.
I am planning for next year and want to plant host plants. This is what I would like to do next year:
1. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) monarch host
2. Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) monarch host annual for me
3. Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis) maybe
4. parsley (Petroselinum crispum)- Black swallowtail host
5. Dill (Anethum graveolens)- Black swallowtail host
6. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Black swallowtail host
7. Rue (Ruta graveolens) Giant swallowtail host
Does this list look correct for these butterflies? What are opinions on this for zone 5b?
Any book recommendations on butterfly raising or host plants out there?
I’d be interested in any plants you all have been successful with as host and if you feel like advising on how to grow them, I could use the help. ALL my Asclepias tuberosa died this year.
Sorry for so many questions but I need help help help!
Maureen
What host plants gave you personal success?
mlm-- Thanks for asking about this. I'm interested in the answer too, since I'm pretty new to this, as well, but, it looks like a pretty good list to me--you'll surely have a festive garden next year with all the dancing and happy butterflies!
I do know that this year I didn't plant fennel, dill, and cabbages and I noticed I didn't have as many swallowtails and other butterflies as last year...especially little white ones (the cabbages, probably).
I was wondering about Passion flower vines--I think they are a host plant for a butterfly (don't know which one or if it is even around here) but it might be fun to grow.and see what it attracts... I also planted violets this year (for which butterfly, I forget!) and I have two willow bushes that I think the swallowtails love. Lilac is a pretty bush and a host plant for Tiger Swallowtail too. Hollyhocks were great hosts for Painted Ladies last year in my garden. I planted milkweed tuberosa (sp?) too, and had a pathetic showing, but I am hoping for a strong show next year. I haven't had success with the other milkweeds for various reasons...
I checked out t several Butterfly gardening books from the library but found better detailed information on the internet. This site has a list of host plants that I refer to often, http://www.butterflybushes.com/butterfly_host_plants.htm and then there is the the usg state by state butterfly site which you probably know of and has been referenced quite a bit on DG (can't find it myself right now!). This site http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/misc/ef006.htm has some easy to read host plant information if you are like me and can't see too well!
And I often look at this site for good info, and of course, it's from the 'Show me' state http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/insects/butterf/ !
I will be interested in what everyone says about host plants. Happy (butterfly) gardening. t.
For your zone, Asclepias tuberosa would be an excellent host for monarchs and is hardy.
Dill and fennel are great for the swallowtails and should do good in your zone when planted in spring.
Passiflora incarnata and Incense should be hardy and is a great host plant for Gulf fritilaries.
Aristolochia durior and A. tomentosa are pipevine swallowtail host plants and I think they're hardy to your zone.
Don't forget to plant nectar plants for the adult butterflies, things like yarrow, zinnias and ageratum(and others with "flat" flowerheads)
Hi, again, Calalily and mlm--
I was going through old threads looking for information on Aristolochia tomentosa and found your comments on host plants, Cala--
Perhaps you could advise me on how to propagate the pipevine? Should I take cuttings now and grow it as a house plant this winter? Or is it better to grow from seed? Probably wintersow it?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you . t.
maureen-- how did your butterfly season go this year? Just wondering what worked for the best for you....
I am also new to butterflying. I didn't intentionally plant anything for them, other than a few scraggly milkweed butterfly weeds that I salvaged from Lowe's. I've noticed though that the majority of wildlife (butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds) around my house flock to my Lantana. I started out with 2 very small plants and planted them on either side of the tree slab table. This is what they look like now.
Janet
I keep thinking that with all of the activity there, surely they'd lay some eggs or I'd see some caterpillars. Nothing though.
Janet
I've had great success with caterpillars on asclepias incanarta and asclepias syriaca. I get so many caterpillars on the plants in my yard that they eat the plants that I have down to sticks and then I have to go find additional plants from ditch lines and vacant lots to keep them feeding.
I also have asclepias tuberosa but I have never had a caterpillar on those plants.
I have often considered adding some dill and fennel but I think the milkweed keeps me plenty busy.
One thing to keep in mind is that the butterflies prefer to lay eggs on the same species of plants that they were caterpillars on... so if you have a cultivar or a variant of a certain species that is noticeably different from the original species, the butterflies might notice the difference (don't know how they do that ) but it seems to me that the closer you can get to the original native species of plants, the better luck you are going to have getting them to lay eggs.
I had lots of black swallowtail caterpillars on my dill this year. None on parsley (that I found, anyway).
I planted 2 kinds of milkweed and something ate their leaves but I never saw cats. Lots of Monarchs though.
Unique--I am not sure what BFs lay eggs on lantana, if any. I don't believe Swallowtails will, nor monarchs. BFs do love it for nectaring though.
Janet, great Giant Swallowtail picture! The host plant can be different than the nectar plant. In her case the nectar plant is the lantana and the host plant for the eggs is citrus, hop tree, prickly ash, rue and probably others. Forgive me if you already knew this Ü
They have an insatiable appetite for citrus trees!
Yes - its best to provide a mix of both nectar plants and host plants. The nectar feeds the butterflies and the butterflies are not as picky when it comes to feeding as they are when it comes to laying eggs.
I don't have any citrus in my yard.... yet! HAHAHAHAHA But I will know what to plant next year.
I've been giving some thought to making my center island a butterfly island next year. The lists that you all have provided will give me a great sense of direction to accomplishing it. I've already determined that I can get the best photo shots (from inside the house) of the center island. I keep seeing folks referring to dill, etc. The only herbs I have growing at the moment are some basil and some Russian Sage, for cooking. I do believe I will need some parsley next year. Does flat leaf Italian Parsley work for the butterflies and cats as well as the curly stuff? I much prefer to cook with the flat leaf variety. I' m not a big fan of dill for cooking, etc., but I'd be happy to plant some for my newfound friends. And what is RUE? I don't think I've ever heard of it before.
Janet
Janet, as far as I'm aware, the butterflies feed on Lantana (and your plant is beautiful) but don't lay eggs on it. You might plant some PassionFlower and attract Gulf Fritillaries, who will make *very* good use of your Lantana to drink from.
Carla
Janet, if you plant dill and the Swallowtails lay their eggs on it you won't have to worry about having any to cook with or to make pickles!
I just saw a "How to Attract Butterflies to your Garden" video and interestingly enough the expert said to plant Milkweed and Verbena Bonarienses as the first two plants for your BF garden because they are the most attractive to the most BFs. Then watch and see which butterflies come (and are local to your area) then go ahead and plant the particular host plants for each species and general nectar plants (your lantana, for example) for the ones which live in your garden.
Mmmm...well, we know Milkweeds are so important for a butterfly garden--Monarch watch says to have 2 or 3 kinds of MW so that you have a long season of bloom from them.
Verbena 'Bonarienses' blooms energetically from June until frost and does seem to be loved by countless BFs as a nectar plant. In fact, for several days this past summer I noticed that the BFs ignored all my other BF plants except MW and V. 'bonarienses' and I thought I could have saved myself a lot of $$ and trouble just planting those two! V. bonarienses is a native of South America and some say it is an invasive weed in some climates. And although I try to stick with native BF plants, I couldn't do without my V. bon.
For parsley, they say the Black Swallowtails like the flat leaf parsley, but curley is OK. They went straight for my dill and ignored both my parsleys, though. Next year I'm planting more dill and both parsleys just in case.
Don't forget shrubs and trees as host plants too. You may not have citrus trees in your yard as larval host plants for the Giant Swallowtails, but I'm sure if you checked your neighborhood you will find other larval host trees and shrubs sheltering various BF cats who will want to come and nectar in your garden. And, btw, one site I read recommended a potted miniature citrus tree on your patio if your BF garden space is limited.
Your climate is probably very supportive of the Passiflora's (Passion Vines). Gardeners fall in love with the Passion Vines and then have their hearts broken, though, when the frit cats eat them with gusto. I try not to get too attached to them!
Any other Larval Host Plants that worked well in everyone's gardens? Would love to hear which ones were particularly liked/used....
Texas and the South are brimming with so many kinds of butterflies you are so lucky!
I have a passionvine and it gets beautiful lavender lady flowers. They are just around the corner from the milkweeds I have. I did notice a few months ago that the passion vine was looking rather scraggly. I accused hubby of weed whacking it. He swore up and down that he didn't. Now that you've said that, it was probably the butterflies that were eating it. It's back and takes over a huge piece of lattice. The area there is not my favorite area though because I've seen snake skins. And we all know that where there are skins.... well, I prefer NOT to go there! I did sneak over there looking since I read about the butterflies being attracted to them, but haven't seen any GF's or cats of any kind.
This thread is full of great info. Thanks to everyone for letting us newbies pick your brains. :-)
Janet