Prairie Winds Farm

Passiflora caerulea is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae butterfly. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is native to Texas and can be found fluttering about in the warm Summer sun feeding on floral nectar in your garden. The Passion flower vine is the specific host plant for the female butterfly, Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae .  It can be found at plant nurseries state wide.  The Passionflower has a beautiful bloom and it is quite astounding in its intricacies.  Many artists have delved into its spectacular characteristics.  This specific passionflower is a favorite of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly.  Healthy offspring, caterpillars (larva) can be reared on this specific vine. The fertilized female Gulf Fritillary butterfly will light upon the tips of new growth or its tendrils to  lay her eggs.  The eggs are cylindrical in shape and are colored a soft orange.  In just about five days the eggs will hatch and an ...

Here is a photo of a monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus that I raised. Sept. 2009 Planning and site preparation are the two most essential things to do when you want to have a successful butterfly garden. You might want to consider researching information provided to you by your local Agricultural Extension Office, butterfly gardening books specific to your region, or websites devoted to gardening instruction. When you have located the website for your county Agricultural office, look up wildscapes , gardening for wildlife or butterfly gardening and read the informative brochures on line. The individuals who wrote them have experience in the planning and procedural aspects of all types of gardens. Second, be sure you are aware of your specific plant hardiness zone map; you can find one on the National Arboretum Web-site. From there, it will be easier for you to see which plants do well in your zone. Another method of research can be easily found in your neighborhood family owned an...