Download Butterfly Plant Natu..

The butterflies and wildflowers of New Jersey have evolved together, developing
intricate relationships. These relationships are showcased in The Kate Gorrie
Memorial Butterfly House. Most plants in the Butterfly House are nectar sources
or larval host plants (caterpillar food) allowing the butterflies to complete the
entire life cycle within the shelter of the Butterfly House. Other plants provide
protection from the elements, or are typical of the New Jersey habitats
represented in the Butterfly House.
Arrow-wood Viburnum
Larval host plant: Spring Azure
Nectar source
Viburnum dentatum
Perennial
Woody shrub
Partial shade to full sun
Moist to dry soil
Arrow-wood Viburnums grow from 3 feet to 10 feet high, and can reach the
same in diameter. Plants bears flat clusters of small, aromatic white flowers in
May. In late summer, these become black berries that are popular with birds.
The straight slender limbs were often used as shafts for arrows by Native
Americans, hence the name. Common through much of the eastern part of the
U.S., Arrow-wood Viburnums grow near wooded edges, and can create dense
thickets.
New England Aster
Larval host plant: Painted Lady
Nectar source
Aster novae-angliae
Smooth Aster
Larval host plant: Painted Lady
Nectar source
Aster laevis
Perennial
Herbaceous
Full sun
Moist to dry soil
Perennial
Herbaceous
Full sun
Moist to dry soil
The clusters of purple flowers atop dark green foliage are a sure sign of fall
when they bloom in September and October. New England Asters are common
in fields and along roadsides, and can reach 2 feet to 8 feet in height. Smooth
Asters have blue to light purple flowers and are smaller in size, reaching a
maximum of 4 feet in height.
The name Aster is from
the Greek word aster, meaning “star.” The flowers are indeed star shaped, with
purple “petals” surrounding a yellow center. In fact, Aster flowers, like all
composites (plants in the family Asteraceae [Compositae]), are actually clusters
of two types of flowers. Disc florets, found in the center, have no petals, and
are where pollen is located; ray flowers, those around the edge, frame the disc
florets. American Goldfinches feed on the seeds of New England Asters.
According to Greek myth, wherever the tears of the goddess Astraea fell, Asters
grew and bloomed.
Bee Balm
Excellent nectar source
Monarda didyma
Perennial
Herbaceous
Full sun to partial shade
Rich, moist soil
The scarlet flowers of wild Bee Balm attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.
The plants are popular in gardens, and cultivars now bear a variety of colored
blooms. Plants grow to 4 feet in height, with aromatic foliage. Many eastern
Native American tribes used this member of the mint family medicinally. The
Oswego are said to have introduced it in tea form to the American colonists,
leading to the other common name of Bee Balm, Oswego Tea. Colonists drank it
during their protests against England’s tea taxes. Bee Balm ranges from New
York west to Minnesota and south, and has naturalized to New England.
Blue Flag Iris
Possible nectar source
Iris versicolor
Perennial rhizome
Herbaceous
Full sun to part shade
Wet soil
The Blue Flag Iris is a beautiful wetland plant, with blade-like leaves and brilliant
blue flowers. It usually reaches heights of 2 feet, but has been known to grow
as tall as 4 feet. It grows in clumps, which emerge from a branching, perennial
rhizome. A plant does not produce flowers until the second or third season.
Blue Flag can be found from Newfoundland west to Manitoba and south to
Florida. Also called fleur-de-lis, the Iris has many historical connections, from
the Ancient Greeks to the modern French and Franco-Canadian. The Greek
goddess Iris was the goddess of rainbows, and acted as a messenger between
the gods and humans. She also transported the souls of women after their
deaths, and purple irises were often planted on women’s graves. Though used
medicinally by some Native Americans, the rhizome is toxic to humans.
Blueberry
Vaccinium sp.
Larval host plant: Striped Hairstreak, Brown Elfin
Perennial
Henry’s Elfin,
Woody shrub
Spring Azure (Northern Azure subspecies)
Full sun
Dry to moist acidic soil
The hardy shrubs of the 30 Blueberry species found in eastern North America
grow in a variety of habitats, from swamps to high ground to barrens. The
small, bell shaped flowers do not give up their nectar easily, and are not
commonly used by butterflies. They are designed for small pollinators to crawl
inside the flower, and transfer the pollen. Bumblebees are known to chew holes
in the flowers to raid the nectar. Flowers appear in May, berries ripen from late
June to September. The two species of blueberries found in New Jersey are
Highbush (V. corymbosum) and Lowbush (V. angustifolium). The first can reach
heights of 15 feet, the latter only 1 to 2 feet. The small green leaves host a
variety of butterfly and moth caterpillars; those listed above are found in New
Jersey. Blueberries were not grown commercially until the early 1900’s.
Commercial stock originated from New Jersey clones.
Butterfly Weed
Common Milkweed
Swamp Milkweed
Larval host plant: Monarch
Excellent nectar sources
Asclepias tuberosa
Asclepias syriaca
Asclepias incarnata
Perennial
Herbaceous
Full to part sun
Moist to dry soil
Common Milkweed is a familiar summer sight along roadsides and in fields. Its
large pink-purple flower heads bloom in late June, and the fluffy, white
“parachute” seeds become airborne in late summer. It is an excellent source of
nectar, and attracts many different species of butterflies. Milkweed prefers full
sun, and can reach heights of 3 feet to 5 feet. Common Milkweed and Butterfly
Weed prefer dry sites; Swamp Milkweed does well in moist soil, but is drought
tolerant and can grow in drier soils. Swamp Milkweed has red flowers, and
Butterfly Weed has small clusters of orange flowers.
Milkweed gets its name form the milky sap that flows through the plant. This
white latex contains compounds that affect heart function. It is toxic to nearly all
animals, but Monarch caterpillars are able to isolate the compounds and put
them in their own body, borrowing the plant’s toxicity to protect themselves.
This toxicity then remains through adulthood. Milkweed is so vital to the
Monarch that the northward migration of Monarch adults in the spring and early
summer follows the emergence of milkweed.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Larval food: Baltimore Checkerspot
Good nectar source
Penstemon digitalis
Perennial
Herbaceous
Full sun to light shade
Moist to dry soil
A beautiful wildflower of fields and woods, Foxglove Beardtongue can be found
from Maine west to Minnesota and south to Alabama. In late spring it bears
spikes of white to light purple tube shaped flowers atop striking red leaves. It
can grow to heights of 1 to 4 feet. Popular with butterflies and hummingbirds, it
also serves as a host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot caterpillars after they
disperse from their colonies on Turtlehead (Chelone glabra). A nice addition to
any garden, the flowering spikes are great for bouquets.
Stinging Nettle
Larval food: Eastern Comma, Question Mark,
Red Admiral
Urtica dioica
Perennial
Herbaceous
Full sun to part shade
Rich soil
An encounter with this native plant is not soon forgotten. The stems of each
plant, usually 1-3 feet in height, but as tall as 5 feet, are covered with stinging
hairs. A burning, stinging sensation follows skin contact, and can last as long as
30 minutes. Stinging Nettle’s painful reputation obscures the delicate beauty of
its pale green flowers, found in the upper axils in late spring through the
summer. Not only is it a host to larvae of several New Jersey butterfly species, it
is also highly nutritious for humans. Often consumed in a tea, it is high in
Vitamins A and C, and iron. Stinging Nettle is found throughout North America
and Europe.