We’ve not had the greatest of luck growing many of the super showy fritilarias (bulbs), but we’ve fared far better with fritillarys. The common name for both the plant and insect, derive from the Latin word fritillus, which loosely translates to “checkerboard pattern”, in particular, the stunningly beautiful, Gulf Coast Fritillary, Dione vanillae, which showed up in front of my camera this weekend. If you’re lucky enough to live in or near the gulf coast, you’re likely to see these beauties in sunny perennial gardens and grasslands. The fritillary’s migrate north from the gulf coast in spring, reaching as far as Virginia, before they run out of time, and start their return south at the onset of fall. While the bright orange wing tops are sure to get your attention, the ventral (underneath) is equally as dramatic with its brown and white stained glass pattern.
Their primary host plant is passion flowers, of the genus, Passiflora. Sadly, most passion flowers are either not winter hardy here, or take over the garden via underground suckers. The most winter hardy passion flowers are our native Passiflora lutea and incarnata, but they simply too aggressive for our garden. If you don’t mind having weedy vines taking over your garden, as long as their native, have at it. As a general rule, the more tropical species sucker less, or in some cases, not at all, but they also die overwinter. The only variety that we grow is Passiflora ‘Snow Queen’, which survives our winters, and doesn’t take over the garden. Perhaps there are more varieties now that make good garden specimens, but I have not kept up with breeding advances. If you want to dig deeper, there is a Hardy Passiflora Facebook group with nearly 6,000 participants, where you can discuss passion flowers to your heart’s content.
The Gulf Coast Fritillary isn’t particular about what it eats and drinks. They enjoy the nectar from a variety of garden perennials including lantana, verbena, and solidago (goldenrod). When Gulf Coast fritillary’s find themselves in danger of becoming a meal for a hungry bird, their abdomen releases scent bombs, like a B-52, resulting in an unappetizing smell that sends the bird fluttering away for a different dining option.
I have a gigantic hatchery here in Wilmington. Yes, I endure the passionflower spreading – it’s off to one edge of my property, so I mostly ignore it as it climbs up a telephone pole. I have never had to replant my Mexican sunflowers and the fritillaries are all over them for food. Are you selling the passionflower “Snow Queen?”
We don’t, since most vines are a labor nightmare in production and shipping.