The two-lobed leaves may look like either right-handed mittens or left-handed mittens. Some leaves may have three lobes, some may have two, and others may have one. It is unusual in that it can have leaves of different shapes on the same plant. Sasafras ( Sassafras albidum) is a small tree that is another great addition to your butterfly garden. Spicebush grows in most garden conditions. Leaves, twigs, and berries are lemon-scented, which makes the plant reliably deer resistant. In the fall, spicebush leaves turns a clear yellow. During the summer, its green leaves provide a great backdrop to lower flowering plants. This 10′ shrub blooms in early spring with tiny clusters of yellow flowers, which are followed by small red fruit. Jake McCumber, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons SpicebushĪn unassuming plant most of the year, spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a great addition to your butterfly garden. To protect itself from predators, it also wraps itself in a leaf of its host plant. The Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar is marked with false eyes, so it resembles a snake. Spicebush Swallowtail by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States, CC BY 2.0 Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars feed on both Spicebush and Sassafras, two aromatic plants in the Laurel Family (Lauraceae). Differentiate it from the Pipevine Swallowtail by noticing the Spicebush Butterfly’s larger white dots on both the forewings and hindwings and the orange marking at the base of the hindwings. Very similar to the pipevine swallowtail, the Spicebush Swallowtail is a large, black butterfly with blue and white markings. Pipevine ( Aristolochia sp.) Spicebush and Sassafras for Spicebush Swallowtail All parts of this plant contain aristolochic acid, which is toxic if swallowed. Pipevine has interesting, pipe-shaped flowers that are usually obscured by the leaves. Because it grows so densely, it was traditionally used to cover porches and arbors to provide shade. Grow it in average to moist garden soil in full sun or part shade. The Dutchman’s Pipe, or Pipevine ( Aristolochia sp.) is a 20′-30′ long vine with large, heart-shaped leaves that form a dense screen. C., Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license Dutchman’s Pipe Vine Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar Because of this toxicity, other butterflies mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail as a defense mechanism. Like the Monarch, it is toxic to birds because of the food it eats: in this case the Dutchman’s Pipe. Identify the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly by the row of white spots on its blue or blue-green hind wings. To attract Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies, plant Dutchman’s Pipe ( Aristolochia sp.). Butterfly Milkweed ( Aesclepias tuberosa) Swamp Milkweed ( Asclepias incarnata) Dutchman’s Pipe for Pipevine Swallowtail Both plants can also take average garden conditions and are deer tolerant. As its name implies, swamp milkweed can grow in wet soils. incarnata) is taller, at 36″-48″, and blooms pink. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a beautiful, orange wildflower, about 18″-30″ tall that likes dry, and even rocky conditions. Whether you have a wet location or a dry one, there is a milkweed plant for your sunny butterfly garden. Monarch Butterfly Monarch Caterpillar Milkweed plants So if you want Monarchs in your butterfly garden, you need milkweed plants to feed their caterpillars. The mutation that causes this tolerance, however, results in the monarch’s dependence on milkweed plants for food. This gives them an evolutionary advantage because most other caterpillars cannot eat this plant, allowing them to graze without competition. Monarch caterpillars have evolved to tolerate the toxins, called cardenolides, that milkweeds produce. Many people know the link between monarch butterflies and milkweed plants. In each section below, explore a butterfly species, a picture of its larva or caterpillar, and its host plant. A specialist insect may rely on one type of plant for food, so for the insect to be present, the host plant must be in the area. Generalists may survive under a variety of conditions and eat a variety of foods, whereas specialists survive under very specific, often hostile conditions, or eat specific and often toxic foods. In nature, some organisms are generalists and some are specialists. Read on to learn what plants to include in your butterfly garden, and one to avoid! What is a Host Plant?Ī host plant is a plant on which an organism lives. To do this, choose plants that are essential for these beautiful creatures in different stages of life. Installing a butterfly garden is a quick way to add color, life, and beauty to your property.
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