Taking Root Seasonal gardening advice

Many residents ask me, ‘How can I attract butterflies to my home?’
I answer, ‘Provide them with a home and food, and they will provide you with joy.’
If you have a place on your property where you can grow flowering vines and nectar plants, you can have the ideal butterfly garden.
Here are a two perennial vines to try.
Purple passion vine (Passiflora incarnata) is commonly known as the Maypop vine (flower shown above).
It is considered a host plant, where a butterfly may lodge, lay its eggs and provide food for its larvae.
The Gulf Fritillary butterfly (shown below)
and the Zebra Longwing butterfly (photo below) can share the Maypop vine to complete their life cycles.
The Maypop vine is native to the south, is easy to cultivate and is fast-growing. Plant it in full sun or part shade; it can grow 15 to 20 feet high, with a spread of three to six feet.
It needs moist, well-drained soil that can be sandy and slightly acidic. Blooms appear from April through September.
Another plant to try is the Dutchmen’s Pipe
(Aristolochia macrophylla), commonly known as the Pipe vine.
It serves as the host plant for the Swallowtail butterfly.
If you are looking for a showy vine, try this one.
The Pipe vine is woody and produces flowers shaped like a curved pipe, with large, heart-shaped leaves (shown below).
It is suitable for zones 8-10, which are cooler than our zone 11, but you can try it.
The Pipe vine grows 10 to 15 feet tall but can reach up to 25 feet in perfect growing conditions.
It will require a trellis or other vertical support.
The Pipe vine prefers sunny to partially sunny locations, moist and well-drained soil and fertilizer every spring.
It can be pruned to keep it under control.

Photos by Steve Poulson.