Gulf Frittilary

This butterfly has been hanging around for several days. I've enjoyed the beauty of this Gulf Frittilary.

Janet

They love lantana, don't they? They've been all over my lantana most of the summer. That is a lovely photo.

Carla

Hi Carla,

Thank you. I was really pleased with the photo myself. I may even frame that one. :-)

Yes, they do love lantana. The hummingbirds love it also. I love that the lantana is right outside my back door. I started out with one plant on each side of the tree slab table. I've been amazed at how big it's gotten this year.

Janet

Lantana is a really great butterfly plant. Do you have a Cuphea/Cigar plant??? They always go for that first in my yard then to the others. Get the red one and purple one if you don't have them. The hummingbird Clearwings like the purple best and the butterflies like the red best but go to all of them

I don't think I've ever heard of that plant Donna, so probably not. Do you have a photo of what it looks like?

Janet

I've had the red Cigar plant in planters in my yard before and, you're right, the hummers love it. I've never seen a purple one, though.

Carla

Janet here is red Cuphea/ Cigar Plant

this is Twinkle Toes Cuphea have also see it called Pink Flamingo

Thanks for the Cigar plant photo. I was just given a seedling, so was pleased to see what the mature plant will look like. I haven't seen a hummer yet, but maybe someday.... I have a red firespike, 2 firebushes, a Cape Honeysuckle (winter bloomer), red pentas, etc. My best butterfly plants are my blue porterweed.

Thanks Donna!

Both of them are very pretty. I don' t have either one. I'll have to be on the lookout for them.

Janet

Oh Janet,
I was swarming with GF's this summer..They are so photogenic, and friendly too. Must have had at least 100 altogether the Passionvines were covered until they ate the leaves completely off. Since it has grown back, and I suppose most of them are heading your way already. Next year I hope to have much more for them to eat.

It seems that unlike the BST's the GF Cats are so spiney that the birds leave them alone, and I didn't have any wasp incidents until the very last one was coming out.. As I watched her filing out her wings a wasp came along and stung her...paralyzed in an instant. I beat the wasp off her, but it was too late.

That is an excellent photo Janet, one for the album for sure!!
;o)
And thanks to Donna I will be adding a red Cigar plant as soon as i find one. Man my list is getting long, whew!

Last year we had a large number of the frits on our Mexican Sunflowers. We had so many that there were sometimes three to a flower covering the plant.
This year, I saw one and saw one fat cat on my passiflora incarnata.
This is the first year they have not eaten my plants naked. I have a lot of flowers and maypop fruit, but I miss the butterflies. I wonder what happened to all of them this year. I hope they return.
My dogs are starting to lift up the leaves and pull the fruit off. I guess they never had that much fruit before. The dogs think they are toys, I think. They can't be good for them, so I watch to make sure they are not eating the fruit. Too many seeds.

Windy,

Last year the Gulf Frittilaries came in numbers in December to lay their eggs. This year they came during June and September. My passifloras have just about had it (although this is the reason I have passifloras). I am hoping though that they recover in time for the December Gulf Frittilaries again.

I hope the butterflies and cats show up at your place this winter.

Thanks,

Chuck

Thanks Chuck. We had them in big numbers in September last year. The passifloras grow wild here. I never have to plant them. I leave them grow where they can climb and mow the rest.
Any easy suggestions on how to get the slimey seeds out to trade them? I am trying freezing them with the mush still on them and popping the seeds lose while they are still frozen. They defrost really quickly
and I have to work fast.
Maybe if I mixed a little sand in with them I could work that to loosen the goo.

Hi Windy,

Here's what I do with the seeds: First cut open the fruit and remove the seeds and pulp. Put the seeds and pulp into a strainer, and gently mash the seeds with your fingers to break the pulp sacs. Continue doing this until the pulp sacs are mostly deflated. Then rinse the seeds, and dump the seeds and remaining pulp out onto a plastic disposable plate. Spread the seeds out so they are not touching each other, and let dry for 3 to 4 days, or until the remaining pulp is dry. Then pick up the seeds and peel or rub away the dried pulp. I usually let them dry for another day or two after that. This is a bit of work, but the seeds come out nice and clean, without any excessive work.

I'm not sure, but I don't think freezing the seeds is good for them.

Mark

Hi Wendy:)
Mark mentioned freezing not good, correct! The best way for you to propigate Passiflora is to get small bit of new growth (from the tips of the branches), about 12-14 in long. Remove the leaves from the base up , (you can leave a couple small tender ones on the tip). Root them in water, misting them a few times a day until you can see the roots growing, then plant them.
Root hormone works too, and place directly into a small pot of dirt, however mist as often as you can until they take root.

Once they take root really well you can pack them in clumps of dirt wrapped in newspaper and plastic.and keep them moist, and upright. These can ship if they have a good set of roots.

I found a new piece growing from the edge of one of my potted passifloras, and it had only a single row of leaves about 3 teris up, and the new tip growth ad the 5 pointed leaves coming in. I dug down below it and took the whole clump and transfered it to a little pot. It standing straight up as if nothing happened. You might look for these little new growth at the ground level, so you can scoop them up at just the right time.

Just some ideas, I know you want to share :oD

Deb

I went out and took a (not so great) pic of my passiflora propagations. You can see the one in the back that I scooped out of the ground. The others will take root in a few days. I keep 1 or 2 tendrils, they keep the plant in place on the wire hoop so it is undisturbed while rooting.

I would love to try growing them from seeds if you have any, or plan to have some. Please look me up if you have any to offer or trade. I can show you a list of seeds I have plenty of if you are interrested.

Deb

This message was edited Sep 30, 2006 9:46 PM