Butterflies on.....Butterfly Bush

13 years ago

Christie's "Butterflies on...." threads are fun!

A lot of people probably have pictures of butterflies on butterfly bush, so if you'll excuse me for hijacking your idea, Christie, how about pictures on buddleia?

Here's a red admiral on my Ellen's Blue butterfly bush, then an American lady and a male tiger swallowtail on the same bush -

I used to have a White Profusion, until it finally bit the dust. I'll have to plant another one, because it was very popular. Here are a palamedes swallowtail, an American lady, and a yellow female tiger swallowtail -

I also had a pink butterfly bush called Summer Beauty, but it wasn't vigorous, didn't grow much and died after a year or so. I won't get another one, but I sure would like to have a vigorous pink. Here's a tiger swallowtail nectaring on it -

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Sherry

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Comments (12)

molanic
13 years ago
Red Admiral

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Tawny-edged Skipper

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Fiery Skipper

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Not really a butterfly, I guess :) Hummingbird Moth

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bob_71
13 years ago
Great shots, Miss Sherry! That Ellen's Blue is really a winner! Got one on order for the spring. I really like the shot of the American Lady!

Molanic, that is one fine picture of a Red Admiral.

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on "Black Knight".
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Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). All the Buckeyes I have seen in my area have eyes on the underside of the hind wing...some have two, some have three...but none that I have seen are without eyes as seems to be the more common form. Buddleia is "White Profusion".
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Monarch (Danaus plexippus) on "Miss Ruby".
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Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) on "Black Knight".
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Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) on "Purple Emperor".
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Variegated Fritillary (Euoptoieta claudia) on "Black Knight).
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Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon) on "Purple Emperor".
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After re reading your message, I'm wondering if you are referring to Butterfly Bush or Butterfly Weed Plant, which is A tuberosa. Since you mention a Monarch laying eggs, you either have host plants for the Monarch or you're asking about a newly purchased A tuberosa plant, aka Butterfly Weed. If Butterfly Bush, one butterfly bush that is supposed to be fragrant is "White Profusion", an old variety of Buddleia. It is a strong grower and to keep it in bounds, it should be pruned back each spring to about 12-16 inches. I have one that was pruned about 8 weeks ago and it is already about 6 feet high and setting buds. Another smaller variety you might watch for is 'Blue Nano' Buddleia. It is a bit smaller, has smaller blooms but in my area, all the flying insects love it for the nectar it produces. I found it last summer at a Wal-Mart, of all places. I had a "Black Knight", which had lovely blooms the butterflies flocked to, but I had to take it out because of it's size. My butterfly gardens are small so I am winnowing out space eaters and trying to replace with smaller sized plantings. I am evaluating what is supposed to be a small sized Buddleia called "Peacock Butterfly Bush" - Buddleia davidii - Extra Bushy - by Proven Winners. It was a small plant when shipped to me by Hirt's Gardens the end of April and it's already setting buds. I'm anxious to see how well it's received by the butterflies. The bloom color is supposed to be a deep pink. For good, strong growth and blooms, all Buddleia's should be pruned back each spring and side dressed with a good compost or fertilizer. And, to keep Buddleia blooming throughout the growing season, dead head each bloom head as it withers so the plant doesn't set seed. For nectar, you might want to consider, besides the plants already suggested, Lantana and Pentas, plants that will bloom all season and should produce very well in Florida. And please don't forget the host plants for the butterflies, as they need these for laying their eggs and feeding the little cats to adulthood. Welcome to the forum. There are many well informed gardeners here on the Butterfly forum who are most happy to share their knowledge. All you have to do is ask. Have fun, happy gardening and thank you for planting for the butterflies. Mary
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mcronin
13 years ago
Thanks to all of you for such nice pictures of butterflies and buddleia. I'm esp. impressed that Bob made a rather dull butterfly(Zabulon skipper) look so spectacular.

mike
tepelus
13 years ago
I have only one contribution:

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Karen
christie_sw_mo
13 years ago
I don't mind at all Sherry. I'm happy to see other people starting threads with the same theme or any threads for that matter. I'm so glad to have something to read and the beautiful photos to look at when I sit down at the computer. It's my "me time" when I need a break.
You've all posted such wonderful photos!

My Pink Delight butterfly bush is getting crowded out by other shrubs in my mixed border and it hasn't bloomed very well the last couple years so I don't have many photos of butterflies on it. I rooted a start and moved it to another area last spring so maybe next summer will be better.

I looked through my photos and found one of a Viceroy
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And I think this is a Great Spangled Frit
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bandjzmom
13 years ago
Ok then. I am going to see if I can get some of my pics up here. I do have lots on butterfly bush and lantana!!~~Angie

Gulf Fritillary
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Pipevine Swallowtail
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Silver Spotted Skipper
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Eastern Black Swallowail
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Pipevine shares lunch with Great Spangled!
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bandjzmom
13 years ago
Oh, and I found some of my Tigers on 3 different butterfly bushes too! ~~Angie

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imabirdnut
13 years ago
Love the Tigers!!! This was the first year I saw more than one! I saw at least a couple every few days...they were bigger than my GSTs!
Partial Morph TST on Bicolor BF Bush
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Bordered Patch on Bicolor BF Bush
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Female Tiger on Bicolor BF Bush
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Male PVST on 'Attraction' BF Bush
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MissSherry
Original Author
13 years ago
Beautiful pictures, everybody!
I just LOVE that 'Miss Ruby' and 'Attraction' - I'll definitely get one of them for a pink in my garden.
I found some more older pictures - a great purple hairstreak -
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A red-banded hairstreak -
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Hoary Edge -
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Sherry
bandjzmom
13 years ago
Oh my Misssherry. I am going to have to come on out and come clean about coveting that Great Purple Hairstreak. That there is one cooooooooooooooooooollllllllllll butterfly!!! I sure would love to see one. :o) Angie
bob_71
13 years ago
Miss Sherry, which camera did you use for these last two? They are remarkably good!

Bob
MissSherry
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks, Angie!
Bob, the last three were all made with a Kodak Easy Share 7530, my first cheap, point-and-shoot digital camera.
Sherry

Butterflies on.....Butterfly Bush

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Butterflies on.....Butterfly Bush

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