Florida hosts up to 200 species of butterflies. Incredible right? And of all of those options, the Zebra Longing is the state butterfly. It is found throughout the state.
This butterfly loves Passion Vine. (A quick note, you need to avoid the red flowering kind. Those are actually not good for butterflies. I used to see them a lot in local nurseries, but that seems to have slowed a bit.) Go for the gorgeous purple flowering kind. (I have an article on it too.) The Passion Vine is the host plant and the caterpillars will munch away. The butterflies really love our Pentas and Jatropha plants. Here you see it enjoying our Firebush.
It is on the smaller side when it comes to the butterflies that visit the garden. But it stands out. The stripes are amazing and this butterfly can really move fast! It took us about two years to see these butterflies in our garden regularly. As I research these butterflies more I am wondering if that is because they can live for five or six months. So as time passes we have more here for longer periods.
Whatever the reason, we are so glad they stop by, and hope they continue to do so as long as this garden grows.
