Butterfly Gardening

Visitors to Riverland Nursery are amazed at the number of butterflies in our gardens. Creating a landscape or garden that attracts and nurtures butterflies is a rewarding and exciting experience. In order to successfully attract butterflies and have them stay in the garden, both nectar and larval food plants are needed. The colorful nectar flowers provice the energy the adults require to live and thrive. The butterflies lay their eggs on the larval host plants and when the caterpillars hatch , they proceed to eat the host plant. (The plant may look a little ragged for awhile.) Each butterfly species requires a specific set of larval plants. Caterpillars are picky eaters, subsequently, planting a variety of larval and nectar plants is essential for creating a garden that attracts a variety of butterflies.

Plant some nectar plants and the butterflies will visit your yard. Add the larval plants and the butterflies will stick around and raise families in your yard. Some of our favorite nectar plants are: Penta, Jatropha, Firebush, Lantana, Blanket Flower, Dune Sunflower, Tampa Verbena, Red Firespike, Coral Honeysuckle and Fiddlewood. Important larval plants are: Wild Lime (Giant Swallowtail), Mexican Milkweed (Monarch), Sweet Bay Magnolia (Tiger Swallowtail), Corky Stem Passionvine (Zebra heliconia), Wild Petunia (Buckeye), Dutchman’s Pipevine (Polydamas Swallowtail) and Dill, Fennel, Parsley (Black Swallowtail).

For even more information about Butterfly Gardening visit the North American Butterfly Association's website or consider using this book as a great reference to get you started: Florida Butterfly Gardening By Marc C. Minno & Maria Minno

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