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COMMON RUE – THE UNCOMMON HOST PLANT
There is a good chance you have never seen common rue (Ruta graveolens) even though it is a host plant for both black and giant swallowtail butterflies. However, if you have ever played a game of cards, you are familiar with the silhouette of its leaves (they are the inspiration for the club suit).
Rue is native to the Balkan Peninsula. However, it currently grows throughout much of the world. Although is does well in Georgia gardens, I have found it difficult to find at nurseries.
Rue is an herb that grows only two to three feet tall. Its blue-green foliage and clusters of yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinators make it an attractive addition to a variety of garden settings. In many areas, it retains its foliage throughout the winter. Rue will grow well is partial shade, in a wide range of soil types, and is both drought and deer resistant.
On the downside, rue is poisonous. While some folks can handle rue within impunity, others break out is a rash and/or blisters when they touch the plant. With that in mind, I recommend that you wear long sleeves and gloves when handling the plant. NEVER eat it or use it for medicinal purposes. If you do, you may rue the day you did.
My wife and I set out rue for the first time this year in hopes of attracting more giant swallowtails. They join two other giant swallowtail caterpillar host plants (wafer ash and trifoliate orange) that have been growing in our yard for a number of years.
If you are looking for an odd host plant to try in your landscape, consider common rue. However, if you do, be careful how you handle it.
ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS ARE NOW FLYING
The zebra swallowtail (Eurytudes Marcellus) inhabits all of Georgia’s 159 counties. It typically flies from late March into August; however, in my neck of the woods (middle Georgia), I see tiger swallowtails more often in early spring than at that at any other time of the year.
The zebra swallowtail is easy to identify as it has a black and white stripes and long tails. This handsome butterfly has a 2½-4” wingspan. No other butterfly in Georgia looks anything like it.
While this species prefers woodlands and shrubby areas, it will venture into backyards. This is particularly true if you live in suburban or rural areas. Zebra swallowtails are less often seen in urban backyards. Most often, you will see a zebra swallowtail flying by close to the ground. Much to our chagrin it will pass by without giving us a chance to enjoy its beauty. However, there are ways in which you can enhance your chances of seeing one up close.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to set out its host plant. This butterfly’s caterpillar host is a small tree known as the pawpaw.
You can also plant nectar plants. Zebra swallowtails prefer to feed at flowers that do not have long tubular throats. They also seem to nectar most often at white flowers.
The best way to lure male zebra swallowtails into your yard is to create a spot where they can stage a puddle party. This special habitat feature is a location where sand, soil, or gravel is wet. Sometimes several males can be seen “puddling” at the same time. They gather at such locations in search of salts and amino acids that are beneficial to their reproduction.
COMMON BLUE VIOLET — A GREAT CONTAINER PLANT FOR WILDLIFE AND BEAUTY
Container gardening for wildlife is gaining popularity across the Peach State. It offers gardeners the opportunity to bring wildlife onto their decks and patios while at the same time enhancing the beauty of their home landscape. One plant that does well in such settings is the Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia).
This Georgia native grows throughout the state. This small beauty grows only 5-7 inches tall. It produces stunning asymmetrical flowers from late winter into summer that range from dark blue, pink and white. In addition, its heart-shaped leaves remain attractive well after it ceases blooming.
Unfortunately, it is a little-known fact that the plant is a source of pollen and nectar for many pollinators. In addition, it provides these insects with food in late winter and spring with it is scarce. The insect pollinators that visit the plant range in size from petite syrphid flies (they are especially fond to the violet’s pollen) to butterflies.
Violets also serve as host plants for both the Diana and variegated fritillaries. In fact, throughout its range at least 27 other species of moths and butterflies also use this violet as a host.
After the flowers shrivel and die, several species of birds eat the violet’s seeds.
I think that if you find a place for the common blue violet in your container garden, you will enjoy it beauty and be amazed at how much wildlife you will attract and enjoy just a few feet outside your backdoor.
If you would like more information about the Container Gardening For Wildlife for initiative sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, The Garden Club of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN), contact Melissa Hayes at melissahayes@dnr.ga.gov
BLOGGER QUESTIONS USE OF BUTTERFLY BUSH
Recently I posted a blog advising that this is a good time to prune butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii). In response a The blogger’s posted a response that simply stated that since butterfly bush has the reputation of sometimes being invasive, gardeners should plant native plants as an alternative to this non-native. I am glad the blogger brought up this important issue.
Butterfly bush is native to China. It is one of the many ornamentals that have been brought to North America throughout our history. Unfortunately, some of these plants have proven to be invasive and usurp habitats populated by native species and cause problems for native wildlife.
In the case of butterfly bush, several states have placed it on their invasive species list. However, to date, the Georgia Invasive Plant Council has not done so in the Peach State. This does not mean it is not a problem in some areas in the state. If it has, I am not aware of it. My wife and I live in Middle Georgia and have planted butterfly bush for years. To date, we have never found any evidence that butterfly bush has escaped confines of our yard.
It is true that an exotic such as butterfly bush can occupy a spot where a native plant can grow. In fact, many Georgia homeowners are converting their property to strictly natives. I think this is a great idea. Others, on the other hand, are just beginning to realize the value of native plants and are methodically adding more natives to their yard each year. In the meantime, they can continue to enjoy the beauty of zinnias, glossy abelia, and non-natives that are not invasive.
There are a number of native plants that you can crow instead of butterfly bush. This list includes joe-pye-weed, goldenrod, blazing star, purple coneflower, buttonbush, and Georgia mint.
If you harbor any concern that butterfly bush is an invasive in your part of the state, contact your County University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office. They can advise you whether butterfly bush is a problem in your locale. If you find that it is, please let me know.
I want to thank the blogger that brought up this issue. Deciding what we plant on our property can have huge implications on our environment. When it comes to invasive plants, we do not want to be part of the problem.
WHEN SHOULD BUTTERFLY BUSHES BE TRIMMED AND/OR REPLACED?
In Georgia, the best time to prune butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) is either late winter or early spring. At that time cut them back to a height of a foot or two above the ground. This will help promote new growth and a bounty of blossoms later in the year.
The average life expectancy of a butterfly bush is 10-20 years. Consequently, once older bushes begin producing fewer flowers, it is time to consider replacing them.
BACKYARD SECRET – TRIFOLIATE ORANGE IS A BUTTERFLY HOST PLANT
The trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is a plant sometimes seen growing in brushy fencerows, and around older homes. It has long green thorns and bears golf ball –size, fragrant fruit. This plant is native to China.
With that in mind, you might be surprised to learn that it is a giant swallowtail host plant.
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS SOMETIMES SERVE AS HOST PLANTS
Some of our butterflies will use both wild and ornamental plants as their hosts. Here are the names of some of the species use both native and cultivated host plants:
Cabbage White – Nasturtium
Gray Hairstreak – Hibiscus
Painted Lady – Hollyhock
Common Buckeye – Snapdragon
If you grow any of these ornamental plants in your garden this year, examine them closely you may find that these beautiful plants are also serving as hosts to butterflies.
BACKYARD SECRET – THE BLACK WALNUT TREE IS VALUABLE TO WILDLIFE
I suspect that most of the folks that have a black walnut tree growing in their yards enjoy the tasty nuts the trees bears, its yellow fall foliage, and attractive shape. However, whenever I tell folks that their black walnut tree is also valuable to wildlife, they are pleasantly surprised.
The tree serves as a host the banded hairstreak butterfly and more than 100 moths including the luna, royal and imperial.
A number of small mammals eat the nuts including the eastern chipmunk and both gray and fox squirrels. In fact, black walnuts can comprise up to 10 percent of the fox squirrel’s diet.
Whenever black walnuts are cracked open by mammals, or crushed by vehicles in driveways or highways, many birds eat the highly nutritious meat. In fact, black walnut meat is ranked as a choice food for the eastern towhee, cardinal, white-throated sparrow, brown-headed nuthatch, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, blue jay, and woodpeckers (hairy, red-bellied and downy).
GEORGIA MINT MAKES A MAGICAL CHANGE
I am sure you are familiar with the fairy tale that tells the story of how an ugly duckling magically turned into a beautiful swan. While my wife and I don’t have any swans swimming around the Johnson Homestead, each year we witness the similar transformation of a native plant known as Georgia mint from what many would call a nondescript weed into a beautiful wild flower. Let me explain.
If you visited our yard in early summer, you might wonder why we would find room for what some folks might think is an ugly weed to grow in our yard. However if you returned anytime from late summer well into October you would discover the reason why we are so fond of it.
At this time of the year, countless pale lavender-white flowers literally blanket our stand of Georgia mint. Admittedly these blossoms are small, however, what they lack in size they more than make in delicate beauty.
In our neck of the woods, the blooming period for Georgia mint extends for weeks. In fact, the plants are still in full bloom as I write this blog. In comparison, most of our most valued pollinator plants have either ceased blooming or will soon do so. As a result, with each passing day bees (particularly small bumblebees), and butterflies are faced with an increasing shortage of flowers. Fortunately, for them, in our yard, Georgia mint serves as a life preserver.
