UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail:  dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

April 23, 2003

Feature Article - for release the week of April 27, 2003

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

Butterfly Gardening

April has been declared Florida Butterfly Gardening month by our Governor. Butterflies are an indicator of a healthy environment, and with just a little effort, can be a part of your landscape. Today’s column will give local gardeners a few basics on how to attract these fascinating creatures to your Florida Yards.

The basic needs of butterflies are much like those of any kind of wildlife: food, water and shelter. If the habitat is complete, they will reward you with spots of flying color. But if any of these needs are absent, you may only receive a fleeting visit from these fascinating creatures.

Food for butterflies comes in two forms. For the adult butterfly, flower nectar is the preferred energy source while they are floating in your yard, but in some cases, rotting fruit may be what is needed. Many butterflies are very specific in their floral requirements - sulphur butterflies require downward hanging tubular flowers - while others are not too picky about where their next nectar meal comes from.

The more limiting food factor is the plants that are needed for the caterpillars. It’s a fact of life -to have butterflies, there must be caterpillars, which usually chew up plants as the grow from tiny eggs to large hungry "worms". Certain butterflies are not found in a particular area because conditions are not right for the larval host plant to grow in that spot.

Female butterflies will seek out certain plants where they will lay their eggs so the next generation of caterpillars can have a proper meal. Monarchs and milkweed are a good example, as are fritillary butterflies and passionflower vines

Before you get out the pesticides to kill that caterpillar, have some idea of what kind of adult insect it will become. Many of our serious caterpillar pests will change into unattractive moths, but there are some of these creepy crawlies in your landscape that will emerge from their chrysalis into beautiful butterflies. Other caterpillars have stinging hairs, and should not be touched. Carefully bring the unknown critter to our office, and ask us for help with their identification.

Water is also needed for butterflies. Caterpillars usually get their moisture from the plants they consume, but adult butterflies may need more than flower nectar to stay alive. A butterfly gardener may place a pebble filled pan or birdbath in their yard to supply a place where these creature can get a drink of water.

Shelter is also needed for a butterfly garden, and it will depend on the species. Some butterflies will need some shady areas, while other need a variety of light conditions in order to survive. In open areas, having a few groupings of trees and shrubs that break up winds will enable butterflies a place to hang on during windy days.

A well planned butterfly garden starts out with choosing plants can grow in a particular area. The plants will determine the kinds of butterflies that this habitat can support. Native plants such as firebush or stokes aster are particularly well suited to local butterfly gardens. However, there are several non native ornamentals such as penta and blue porterweed that also have a place as good butterfly attracting plants.

Vegetable and herb gardeners know that plants such as parsley and fennel are favored by swallowtail caterpillars. Trees such as the red bay and wild lime are great additions to local landscapes wishing to encourage this kind of wildlife. It is possible to design your garden based on the kinds of butterflies you want to attract.

Butterfly gardening is a great way to improve the health of the environment, and is therapeutic to the gardener as well. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors, and kids and families can have a lot of fun building up this beautiful part of their Florida Yard.

Today’s column is based on information from Jaret Daniels, curator of the Butterfly Kingdom Conservatory and former professor at the University of Florida.  An outstanding reference on this subject is his book, Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening. It is available for $15 from local vendors or directly from the University’s Extension Service Bookstore in Gainesville.  Free bulletins on butterfly gardening are available at our office.

If you need additional information on butterfly gardening, call or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North. Our phone number is 763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu.

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean Last update: 06/20/2006 .  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert