Starting a Butterfly Garden in South Florida You will need: • Soil • Sunny spot • Mix of Native Plant Seeds OR Native Plants (see list on right). A garden needs both nectar and host plants for butterflies and their caterpillars! • Trowel, if planting • Watering source, if little rain What you don’t need: • Pesticides! Harmful for garden wildlife • Herbicides! Destroy weeds beneficial to butterflies Nectar plants for butterflies • Tickseed • Porterweed • Blanket Flower • Blue Mistflower • Giant Ironweed • Goldenrod • Lantana • Climbing Aster Host Plants for caterpillars • Corky Stem & Maypop Passiflora (Zebra longwing, Julia heliconian, Gulf Fritillary) • Milkweed (Monarchs, Queens) • Dutchman’s Pipevine (Polydamas Swallowtail) • Bahama Cassia & Partridge Pea (Orange Barred Sulphur, Cloudless Sulphur) • Wild Lime (Giant Swallowtail) 1. Prepare your garden by digging up any old roots in the area and turning the soil over. Put down a new layer of soil 2. If using seeds, make small holes in the soil. Be sure to space them out. Place a few seeds into each hole 3. If using plants, place your plants on top of the soil to decide where you would like them 4. Remember the host plant leaves will get eaten by caterpillars so you may want to put them behind nectar sources 5. Dig a hole twice as large as the plant. Place the plants in the hole and pack the soil around them firm 6. Water well until seeds germinate or plants become established • Email [email protected] if you would like starter seeds for your garden. Based on availability, these will be mailed to you, so please include your complete address. • Check your local nurseries for native plants or look online for sources to get native plant seeds suitable for South Florida • Visit bringbutterfliesback.org for more information on the importance of butterflies and how you can help counter their decline! •