Great Spangled Fritillary © Rebecca Nickols
Native Common Blue Violets in my Missouri wildlife garden are considered an invasive, stubborn weed by most — including me. That is until recently I decided to have a new mindset… Violets are the host plant for the Great Spangled Fritillary, which is a common visitor to my butterfly garden. I realized that I’ve never seen a larva for this species and perhaps that is because I remove their host plant as quick as I do any other weed among my flowers and herbs.
This year I’m allowing the violets to have their own space in my garden, though I’ll still have to keep them contained within that area. Some need to know facts about this native:
Native Violets © Rebecca Nickols
Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
- Bloom Time: April to June
- Color(s): white, yellow, pinks, blues, violets
- Sun Exposure: Sun or partial shade
- Soil: Moist, fertile
- Average Height: 1 in. – 6 in.
- Average Spread: 4in. – 6 in. (or more accurately “anywhere and everywhere”)!
- USDA Plant hardiness Zone: 4-10
- Note: Deer resistant
Great Spangled Fritillary © Rebecca Nickols
Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cyblele)
- Favorite Flowers: Gloriosa daisy, thistle, verbena, and butterfly weed
- Caterpillar Host Plants: Violets
- Common Range: High Plains, Midwest, New England, Washington and Oregon
As an interesting side note, there is a campaign among Friends of the Garden, an organization that maintains the gardens of Springfield, Missouri’s Botanical Center, to nominate the endangered Regal Fritillary Butterfly as Missouri’s official state butterfly.
The habitat of the Regal Fritillary is restricted to open grasslands and prairies. Because of the destruction of their native environment and the use of pesticides and herbicides, their numbers have drastically declined.
I feel strongly that all wildlife garden enthusiasts should support any efforts to maintain native habitats so that future generations can enjoy the uniqueness of our beautiful wildlife…
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About Rebecca Nickols
The violets are pretty for a short time but once the heat of summer kicks in the foliage can look very ragged. I cut them back if showing through the later plant matrix. Don’t mind the effort but worry about timing. How long is the season for egg laying and cat munching?
Gloria recently posted..Native insects native plants
“The habitat of the Regal Fritillary is restricted to open grasslands and prairies” The same story all over the country, butterflies’ habitat dwindling as more & more of our natural landscape gets paved over & built upon. Anyway we can help, we should. One garden at a time, yes, but conversation between neighbors & friends is golden. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Matilija Poppies- I Owe You So Much
I’ll be sure to let my grandmother know that she was right all along. the
Great Spangled Fritillary ARE indeed endagered. She could use the help with her garden aswell….beautiful flower garden. She wants to plant columbines, i wish i knew what to
what to tell her about them….hope to see more informationally packed bloggs! I’ll be back.
Jasmine recently posted..Frames & Prints
This is what I had to say about fritillaries and violets: Pollinators in Winter. Fritillaries
This year I plan to look for caterpillars. I have never seen one.
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