Florida

Did you know that over 180 different species of butterflies can be found in Florida? With the possibility of attracting that many different butterflies, creating a butterfly garden can be immensely rewarding. 

As pointed out by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture (IFAS) Extension, a butterfly garden doesn’t need to be large. Even a few pots of flowers on a patio could attract a number of the winged insects. However, it’s crucial to design the garden well. The most important thing is to include plants that support both butterfly larvae (caterpillars) and adult insects.  

Different species of butterflies seek food from different plants. That is true for both the larvae and the adult insects. As long as a flowering plant produces nectar, it will likely attract some butterflies. However, different species of butterfly larvae subsist on different types of host plants–and the selection of those plants is often extremely limited. For instance, the larvae of monarch butterflies can only survive on milkweed while the columbine duskywing butterfly chooses wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), or occasionally garden columbine (A. vulgaris), for its larvae. 

A successful butterfly garden will take three things into consideration: 

• Which butterfly species inhabit the region and might visit the garden; 

• Which plants will grow and flourish in the region; and 
• Which plants will attract which butterflies.   

As the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension points out, “Butterfly gardening is an exacting (not difficult) pursuit and must be based on butterfly preferences—not human ones.” 

One final thing to keep in mind while designing a butterfly garden is the importance of choosing native plants. Native plants are those that have evolved within a region’s ecosystem. Because they’ve evolved in tandem with other plants and animals in the area, they support the region’s biodiversity. 

Non-native plants (also called “alien” or “exotic” plants) were introduced into an area, either on purpose or by accident. Because they aren’t part of the region’s ecosystem, there are no checks and balances in place. As a result, these plants often become invasive. As pointed out by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council, invasive plants can “permanently [alter] landscapes and ecosystem functions … costing economies millions of dollars each year.” While non-native plants may attract butterflies, they are often poor choices for the surrounding ecosystems. 

With several different regions within Florida, over 180 species of butterflies flying over different parts of the state, and a plethora of suitable plant possibilities, the choices available to Florida gardeners are extensive and somewhat complex. For a comprehensive listing of plants to feature in a Florida butterfly garden, visit either the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension website or the North American Butterfly Association website. Some popular choices are listed below. 

Native Butterfly Nectar and Host Plants in Florida  

Trees 

• Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) 

• Produces small magenta flowers for about 2-3 weeks in the spring. The flowers’ nectar attracts many species of butterflies, especially those in the gossamer wing family. 

• Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) 

• This compact tree usually grows to a maximum of 3.5 m. It produces small white flowers that hang like bells from its branches. The flowers’ nectar is attractive to several species of butterflies. 
• The sparkleberry tree is also a host plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly larvae (Callophrys henrici). 

• Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) 

• Native to Florida, this shrub or small tree produces small white flowers in the spring that are attractive to many different species of butterflies.  
• The chickasaw plum is also a host plant for the larvae of coral hairstreak (Satyrium titus), eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis), spring azure (Celastrina ladon), and viceroy (Limenitis archippus) butterflies.  

Shrubs 

• Bastard Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) 

• Native to the American midwest, this shrub has been naturalized throughout most of the United States. Its spikes of violet flowers attract a number of different butterflies. Also known as False Indigo 
• Bastard indigo is a host plant for the larvae of Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) and Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) butterflies.  

• Wild Azalea (Rhododendron canescens) 

• Known by several other names, including Mountain Azalea, Honeysuckle Azalea, and Sweet Azalea, this native shrub commonly grows in the southeastern U. S. A. Its tubular flowers are white to pink in colour and their nectar is especially attractive to swallowtail butterflies. 

• Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa) 

• Native to North America, this small shrub grow predominantly in the south-eastern United States. It’s a broadleaf evergreen, related to many common cacti and succulents. While the plant only grows to about 0.5 to 1 meter tall, its flower stalks can grow to about 2.5 m in the right conditions. 
• Adam’s needle is a host plant for the larvae of Yucca Giant-Skipper Butterfly, Megathymus yuccae and Cofaqui Giant-Skipper butterflies.  

Wildflowers – Nectar 

• Mist flower (Conoclimium coelestinum) 

• This native perennial grows to about 1 m under optimal conditions. It produces blue/purple puffball flowers that are particularly attractive to common buckeye (Junonia coenia) and soldier (Danaus eresimus) butterflies. 

• Porterweed (Stachytarpheta spp.) 

• This native annual plant varies in size across different species–it may grow anywhere from 0.3 to 2 m tall. Its small pink or blue flowers are rich in nectar and attract many different species of butterflies. 

• White milkweed (Asclepias perennis) 

• Native to North America, white milkweed has small white flowers clustered into globes. The flowers’ nectar is particularly attractive to monarch (Danaus plexippus) and queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies. 

•  Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 

• Growing 1 to 1.5 m tall, this native perennial has showy red flowers that attract many different species of butterflies.  

• Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea) 

• Also called wild sage, scarlet sage, fireweed, or scarlet salvia, this compact perennial wildflower produces tubular red flowers that attracts many different species of butterflies. 

Wildflowers/Native Plants – Larval Host Plants 

• Dutchman’s Pipe (Isotrema macrophyllum) 

• This woody vine is native to eastern North America. It provides food to the larvae of the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) and Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas) butterflies. 

• Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata, suberosa, incense) 

• There are about 550 species of passion flower around the world, with about 250 species native to North America. Of those, the purple passionflower, cork passionflower, and incense passion flower provide a larval food source for zebra (Heliconius charithonia) and Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) butterflies. 

The state of Florida is an oasis for butterfly gardeners. Not only do 180 different species of butterflies inhabit the state, but the (sub)tropical growing conditions allow a wide range of plants to flourish. With a little thought and care, even the smallest butterfly garden can provide food and nectar for several different species of butterflies and their larvae.