I have found this vine locally and am considering getting it for a partly shady stretch of fence. Most other vines would not do well there. Does anyone have any experience with it and would it be a nectar source for butterflies?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55263/
Thank, Trudi
Purple Butterfly vine
Hi, Trudi-- I, of course, don't know the answers to your questions, but it sure is a pretty vine and looks like the hummingbirds would like it, anyway! Don't know about the butterflies--
Yes, I wish I could plant something just because it is pretty. Maybe I am taking this butterfly gardening too seriously ;-)
LOL Well, I'm the same way although I do plant for the hummingbirds, too.
I'm trying to start seeds of a number of different vines for the BFs and HBs this year.
I have a question for you. Do you have any experience with butterfly bushes and can I get cuttings from them? I dont even know what they look like but a coworker has 5 of them and told her I would check it out.
Trudi,very pretty vines, do they only grow in the shade? Im also trying to plant this year for butterflies and hummingbirds. So far I have several varieties of morning glories, scarlett runner beans, Im going to try brugs..never have before and I dont know what else. Any other ideas?
Thanks
Hi, Sydney.
Although I haven't done it, buddleia are supposed to be easy to grow from cuttings. I am growing some from seed, too, right now. Here are a few pictures of different kinds: http://images.google.com/images?q=buddleia&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GWYE&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
I have about six in our garden and the butterflies do like them a lot.
I purchased 2 compact type buddleias for pots on my deck, too. Some say these aren't as attractive to butterflies but they were all over mine last September.
Buddleias are not native to the US, though, and in some southern regions they are considered very invasive plants, so you may want to check that out before planting them in the garden.
They are basically easy to grow and in southern climates they are perennial and come back every spring. In northern climates sometimes they don't make it through the winters.
I have the the Bowtie vine. It is beautiful and I love it but serves no purpose for wildlife in my yard.
I also came across this site and was wondering if anyone has any info about it. I live in a condo so cant have a raised bed..well probably could, but dont know how to do it...Thanks for the other info and do you think these beddleias will grow well in containers? Im trying to set up my deck with large containers and perhaps a water feature, check out this site, its very interesting www.gardensup.com
By the way I live in Vancouver BC
Donna b, Thanks for the info on the bowtie vine. Since I wasn't sure, I decided not to get it
Sydney,
I love Vancouver!! My husband and I went there for New Year's Eve 3 years back. It was the farthest from Florida we could get with Frequent Flyer Miles ;-) We had a dinner cruise in the Bay on 12/31, it was so beautiful!!
Going back to vines for the moment. If you are looking for just nectar plants, butterflies would love you to pieces if you had a Mexican Flame vine.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1329/
Have you been to Butchart Gardens lately? I had the pleasure of going once 10 years ago. I would think they would be brimming over with info about Butterfly gardening for your area.
http://www.butchartgardens.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
If you go, take pictures and post them ;-) Trudi
Heh Trudi, that sounds like you had a great trip here. I guess we take advantage of it as we live here. I did live in Ontario for about 15 yrs and did miss the ocean, mountains etc. Im planning a trip to Victoria in the next couple of months and going to shop at some nurseries there and also go the Butchart Gardens as well. I will take pictures and post and if you ever plan a trip again let me know okay, and thanks for the links, love that vine and going to look for some here.