WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA (Bradenton area)
by Marguerite Klem
TOP BUTTERFLY NECTAR FLOWERS
A number in front of a flower name indicates a particularly recommended plant (1 = most recommended). Numbers in "BLOOM
SEASON" correspond to the month (4 = April, 5 = May, etc.). Abbreviations: A = alien species, N = native species.
FLOWER
N
N
A
N
N
N
A
N
A
BLOOM ATTRACTED
HEIGHT COLOR SEASON BUTTERFLIES
Verbenas
6-12"
Verbena
Purple coneflower
1-3’
Echinacea purpurea
Mexican sunflower
6’
Tithonia rotundifolia
Seaside goldenrod
2-8’
Solidago sempervirens
Climbing aster
6-7’
Aster caroliniensis
False heather
6-12"
Cuphea hyssopifolia
Blue porterweed
3-5’
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Butterfly bush
6’
Buddleia davidii
Butterfly weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Golden dewdrop
Duranta repens
Hibiscus
Hibiscus denudatus
1-3’
3-11
COMMENTS
pink,
lavendar
pink
6-10
Gulf Fritillary
Skippers
many
orange
6-11
many
deadhead (remove
dead flowers)
stake stems
yellow
8-10
Monarch
maintains itself
Gulf Fritillary
Skippers
Gulf Fritillary
needs pruning;
attracts more bees
requires sun
pale purple 8-11
lavendar
blue
12-6
all
pink,purple all
orange
all
to 18’
lavendar
all
10-12’
red
all
Gulf Fritillary, Zebra
Skippers
Giant Swallowtail
deadhead (remove
Zebra, Gulf Fritillary
dead flowers);
Red Admiral, White Peacock needs water
Monarch, Zebra Longtail
Skippers
Monarch
major nectar &
Queen
caterpillar plant
Zebra, Giant Swallowtail
easy to grow;
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
important nectar
Sulphurs, Zebra
source
Gulf Fritillary, Red Admiral
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
requires sun
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA (Bradenton area)
TOP BUTTERFLY NECTAR FLOWERS
(continued)
FLOWER
A
N
A
BLOOM ATTRACTED
HEIGHT COLOR SEASON BUTTERFLIES
Lantana
2-3’
Lantana montevidensis
lavendar
all
Malay ixora
Ixora coccinea
Pentas
Pentas lanceolata
3-4’
red
all
3-5’
red,cerise
lavendar
all
3-4’
white
all
Spanish needles
Bidens alba
Stokes aster
Stokesia laevis
12-18"
purple,blue all
COMMENTS
American Snout, Zebra
grows out from
Gulf Fritillary, Red Admiral center; prune but
White Peacock, Monarch
always leave some
Skippers
in bloom
Gulf Fritillary
requires sun
Monarch
Giant Swallowtail, Sulphurs may be grown as a
Zebra, Gulf Fritillary
hedge or in
Red Admiral, White Peacock clumps; may need
Monarch, Skippers
replanting every
few years
Miami Blue, Zebra
Gulf Fritillary, Skippers
Zebra
deadhead (remove
Gulf Fritillary
dead flowers)
NECTAR FLOWERS THAT DON’T WORK IN THIS REGION
Abbreviations: A = alien species, N = native species.
FLOWER
N Black-eyed Susans Rudbeckia
Black foot Melampodium
Blue sage Eranthemum pulchellum
Dwarf pink pentas Pentas
N Firebush Hamelia patens
N
N
N
N
Fire spike Odontonema strictum
Gold lantana Lantana ouatifolia
Indian blanket Gaillardia pulchella
Mexican sage Salvia leucantha
Partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata
Ruellia Ruellia caroliniensis
Scarlet sage Salvia coccinea
Van Hout’s sage Salvia vanhoutii
COMMENTS
no butterflies attracted
pretty cerulean blue but butterflies not attracted
see "NECTAR FLOWERS" for regular pentas
variable; no butterflies attracted in some gardens;
but attractive to butterflies in other gardens
no butterflies attracted
no butterflies attracted
skippers at flowers but no caterpillars on plants
no butterflies attracted
no butterflies attracted
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA (Bradenton area)
TOP CATERPILLAR FOOD PLANTS
Numbers indicate a particularly recommended plant (1 = most recommended). Abbreviations: A = alien species, N = native species.
NAME
HEIGHT BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS
N 3 Butterfly pea
vine
Silver-spotted Skipper
Clitoria mariana
Long-tailed Skipper
N 6 Cassias
5-20’
Cloudless Sulphur
Cassia
Orange-barred Sulphur
A
Dill
3-4’
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Anethum graveolens
A
Fennel
3’
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Foeniculum vulgare
A
Grapefruit, lemon
10-30’ Giant Swallowtail
Citrus maxima, limon
A 4 Mexican milkweed
1-3’
Monarch
Asclepias curassavica
N 1 Passion vine
vine
Zebra
Passiflora incarnata
Gulf Fritillary
N
Passion vine
vine
Julia
Passiflora morifolia
Gulf Fritillary
N 2 Pipevines
vine
Polydamas Swallowtail
Aristolochia
N
Ruellias
1’
White Peacock
Ruellia (nudiflora, occidentalis)
N 5 White-flowered milkweed 2’
Monarch
Asclepias perennis
COMMENTS
grow in sun or
semi-shade
fast growing; weak
stemmed (stake)
grow near nectar source
such as purple lantana
keep moist
remember: do not spray
both caterpillar & nectar
source
plant throughout the year
grow in semi-shade
grow in sun or half sun
COMMON BUTTERFLIES FOR YOUR GARDEN & YARD
A number in front of a butterfly name indicates a particularly likely species (1 = most expected to be seen). Numbers in "FLIGHT
PERIOD" and "CATERPILLAR SEASON" correspond to the month (4 = April, 5 = May, etc.), with < meaning earlier in the month,
m the middle of the month, and > late in the month.
NAME
3 Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
3 Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamas
FLIGHT CATERPILLAR CATERPILLAR
PERIOD
SEASON
FOOD PLANTS
1-12
1-12
pipevines
1-12
1-12
pipevines
3
COMMENTS
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA (Bradenton area)
COMMON BUTTERFLIES FOR YOUR GARDEN & YARD
(continued)
NAME
2 Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
1 Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes
2 Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
Great Southern White
Ascia monuste
2 Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae
1 Orange-barred Sulphur
Phoebis philea
Miami Blue
Hemiargus thomasi
1 Zebra
Heliconius charitonius
1 Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
1 Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
3 Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
3 White Peacock
Anartia jatrophae
1 Monarch
Danaus plexippus
3 Queen
Danaus gilippus
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
FLIGHT CATERPILLAR CATERPILLAR
PERIOD
SEASON
FOOD PLANTS
COMMENTS
1-12
1-12
parsley family (dill)
1-12
1-12
citruses
3-12
3-12
1-12
1-12
1-12
1-12
spicebush, camphor tree,
sweet bay, prickly ash
mustard (cabbage)
family; nasturtium
cassias
1-12
1-12
cassias
1-12
1-12
balloon vines
1-12
1-12
passion vines
1-12
1-12
1-12
1-12
passion vines (but red
kind not accepted)
asters
4-10
4-9
nettles, false nettles
1-12
2-11
1-12
2-11
snapdragons, plantain,
ruellias, verbenas
ruellias
1-12
1-12
milkweeds
1-12
1-12
1-12
1-12
1-12
2-11
1-12
1-12
milkweeds,
milkvines
Butterfly pea,
beggar’s-ticks
Butterfly pea and
other legumes
Bermuda grass
4
breeds year-round,
fewer in summer
WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA (Bradenton area)
LOCAL & UNUSUAL BUTTERFLIES FOR YOUR GARDEN & YARD
Numbers in "FLIGHT PERIOD" and "CATERPILLAR SEASON" correspond to the month (4 = April, 5 = May, etc.), with < meaning
earlier in the month, m the middle of the month, and > late in the month.
NAME
FLIGHT CATERPILLAR CATERPILLAR
PERIOD
SEASON
FOOD PLANTS
COMMENTS
none to list.
GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT GARDENING IN THIS REGION
USDA ZONE: 10
The soil is sandy; gardens can be enriched with potting soil and mulch. The summer heat and high humidity
is continuous from July through September, with afternoon showers in summer.
Copyright 1996 by the North American Butterfly Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
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