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Butterflies and Native Plants: Diversity, Connections & Opportunities
Jaret C. Daniels, Ph.D.
• Florida is the third most floristically diverse state in the U. S. with over 4,200 species of ferns and seed plants;over 3,600 are native or naturalized flowering species.
• Supports an extensive diversity of terrestrial ecological communities, harboring many endemic or imperiled species. Some 175 plant species are nearly endemic to the state’s boundaries.
• The butterfly fauna of Florida is the most diverse of any state east of the Mississippi with some 187 recorded taxa.
• Correlation between plant species richness and composition - and butterfly diversity
www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu
To much extent, this relationship is the result of a life cycle that requires availabilityof both larval host and adult floral nectar resources.
Tight association (ecological tracking) between larval host plants and presence of butterfly populations; most butterfly species dependent on native larval host resources, often in only one or a few plant families.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail(Papilio glaucus)
Eastern Pygmy Blue(Brephidium isophthalma)
Question Mark larva on Sugarberry
Flower nectar
Turkey Tangle FogfruitPhyla nodiflora
Wild Azalea(Rhododendron canescens)
• Adult nectar source• Woody, deciduous shrub• Height to 15 feet tall• Blooms February to May• Partial shade• Prefers acid soils• Florida native
Florida Flame Azalea(Rhododendron austrinum)
• Adult nectar source• Woody, deciduous shrub• Height to 10 feet tall• Blooms March to April• Partial shade• Prefers acid soils• Florida native
Swamp Sunflower(Helianthus angustifolius)
• Adult nectar source• Erect, herbaceous perennial• Height to 7 feet• Blooms late summer through fall• Full sun to partial shade• Moist, fertile soil
Beach Sunflower(Helianthus debilis)
Corn Snakeroot(Eryngium aquaticum)• Adult nectar source• Herbaceous perennial• Moist soils• Adapts well to garden• Blooms summer to fall
Tropical Sage(Salvia coccinea)
• Adult nectar source• Herbaceous annual or short-livedperennial
• Height 1- 2 feet• Blooms throughout the year• Readily self-sows
Lyre-leaved Sage(Salvia lyrata)
Buttonbush(Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Adult nectar source• Weeping shrub to 10 ft• Blooms spring to fall• Requires moist conditions• Good garden plant
Summer Farewell(Dalea pinnata)
• Adult nectar source• Larval host for Southern Dogface• Herbaceous perennial to 2 ft• Fall blooming
Indian Blanket(Gaillardia pulchella)
• Adult nectar source• Annual or short-lived perennial herb• Blooms almost year-round• Readily self sows• Excellent for naturalizing and in mass
Dotted Horsemint(Monarda punctata)
• Adult nectar source• Herbaceous perennial to 3 ft• Blooms in late summer and fall• Excellent for garden use
Snow Squarestem(Melanthera nivea)
• Adult nectar source• Herbaceous perennial to 8 ft• Blooms most of year• Readily spreads• Rough foliage• Not for small garden
Partridge Pea(Chamaecrista fasciculata)
• Larval host for:• Little Sulphur• Cloudless Sulphur• Gray Hairstreak• Ceraunus Blue
• Herbaceous annual to 3ft• Blooms much of the year• Readily self sows• Attractive in mass
Twinflower(Dyschoriste oblongifolia)
•Larval host for:-Common Buckeye
• Erect or sprawling herbaceous perennial; groundcover
• Height to 12 inches• Sun to partial shade• Florida native• Blooms March to November
Maypop(Passiflora incarnata)
• Larval host for:-Zebra Longwing- Gulf Fritillary- Variegated Fritillary
• Perennial vine • Florida native• Full sun to partial shade• Drought tolerant once established
Corky-stem Passionflower(Passiflora suberosa)
Butterfly Weed(Asclepias tuberosa)
• Adult nectar source• Larval host for:
- Monarch• Perennial to 2’• Florida native• Full sun to partial shade• Drought tolerant once established
White Swamp Milkweed
SCORPIONSTAILHeliotropium angiospermum Murray
(Boraginaceae)
Hog Plum(Prunus umbellata)
• Adult nectar source• Deciduous small tree• Height to 35’• Full sun to partial shade• Florida native• Blooms in spring• Drought tolerant once established
Chickasaw Plum(Prunus angustifolius)
Sparkleberry(Vaccinium arboreum)
• Adult nectar source• Larval host for:
- Striped Hairstreak•Woody shrub or small tree• Height to 27’• Florida Native• Blooms in Spring• Drought tolerant once established
Deerberry(V. stamineum)
Wild Lime(Zanthoxylum fagara)
• Larval host for:- Giant Swallowtail
• Woody shrub or small tree• Height to 16’• Full sun to shade• Native to south Florida• Warning: Sharp thorns
Hercules Club(Z. clava-herculis)
Bastard Indigo(Amorpha fruticosa)
• Adult nectar source• Laval host for:
-Southern Dogface- Silver-spotted Skipper
• Woody shrub• Full sun to partial shade• Florida native • Drought tolerant once established
Firebush(Hamelia patens)
• Adult nectar source• Woody shrub or small tree to 12’• Native to south Florida• Full sun to partial shade• Drought tolerant once established
• They are approachable, easily attracted and easy to observe• They can be found in urban, suburban and rural locations• Popularity of butterfly watching and gardening continue to increase nationwide• This popularity has the potential to expand native plant availability, use and interest
Butterflies offer Tremendous Public Appeal
Future Needs an Directions
• Increased public education about landscapingwith native plants
• Increased market opportunities for native plants - chicken and egg (demand vs. availability)- Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative- Capitalize on popularity of butterfly gardening
• Increased emphasis on community beautification projects
• Expanded emphasis on native landscaping bycommercial developments, small businesses
• Increased research on tie with native pollinators (forage resources, use in agricultural settings, ecological restoration, species conservation)
• Changes in land management practices (e.g.ROW, roadside mowing)
