Interested in attracting butterflies to your property? The Florida Museum offers native, nectar, host and accent plants for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Florida Museum’s Butterfly Rainforest exhibit. Discover which pollinator species you can attract and learn about the butterfly-friendly plants that work best in your landscape.
The plant sale is held outside the Museum’s front entrance near the picnic area, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Prices: Plant prices start at $3 for a 4″ pot and most 1-gallon pots are $6 each. Larger sizes may be available ranging from $12 to $18 for a 3-gallon pot.
Availability: Fifteen plants will be featured each week
July 19 – 20
Remember that supplies are limited, so come early if there is a species you really want.
Scarlet Hibiscus | Hibiscus coccineus | Family: Malvaceae | Origin: southeastern U.S. | Description: herbaceous shrubby perennial | Flowering Season: summer, fall | Exposure: full sun to part sun | Moisture: wet to average once established | USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11 | Nectar Value: good source for larger butterflies- Pentas, Egyptian Star Flower | Pentas lanceolata | Family: Rubiaceae | Origin: Arabia, northeastern Africa | Description: evergreen wildflower, may die back in winter | Flowering Season: continuous w/o frost | Exposure: full sun | Moisture: average to moist | USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-12 | Nectar Value: exceptional nectar source
- Peregrina | Jatropha integerrima | Family: Euphorbiaceae | Origin: Cuba, West Indies | Description: evergreen shrub or small tree | Flowering Season: continuous | Exposure: sun to part sun | Moisture: average, drought tolerant | USDA Hardiness Zones: 9B-11 | Nectar Value: outstanding, used by many species
- Tropical Sage | Salvia coccinea | Family: Lamiaceae | Origin: southeastern U.S., Central America, West Indies | Description: annual or short lived perennial wildflower | Flowering Season: continuous w/o frost | Exposure: full sun to part shade | Moisture: average, drought tolerant | USDA Hardiness Zones: as perennial, 8-10 | Nectar Value: outstanding, used by many species
- Cat's Whiskers | Orthosiphon stamineus | Family: Lamiaceae | Origin: tropical east Asia | Description: evergreen shrub, may die back in winter | Flowering Season: continuous | Exposure: full sun to part sun | Moisture: average to moist | USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11 | Nectar Value: good nectar source
- Scorpiontail Heliotrope | Heliotropium angiospermum | Family: Boraginaceae | Origin: northern S. American, C. America, Mexico, Caribbean, southern Texas and coastal peninsular Florida | Description: evergreen subshrub; may act as self sowing annual in north Florida | Flowering Season: continuous w/o frost | Exposure: full sun to light shade | Moisture: average, drought tolerant | USDA Hardiness Zones: 8B-11 | Nectar Value: excellent nectar source
- Peacock Ginger | Kaempferia pulchra 'Silver Spot' | Family: Zingiberaceae | Origin: Thailand and mainland Malaysia | Description: Herbaceous perennial to 1 ft. | Flowering Season: Summer | Exposure: Partial sun to full shade | Moisture: moist | USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11 | Nectar Value: 1/5 No nectar, accent plant
- Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | Family: Apocynaceae | Origin: Most of North America | Description: Perennial wildflower to 4 ft. | Flowering Season: Summer to Fall | Exposure: Full sun to partial shade | Moisture: Moist | USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 | Nectar Value: 3/5 Host plant for: Monarch, Queen
- Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Family: Apocynaceae | Origin: Illinois to Florida and Texas | Description: Perennial wildflower to 2 ft. | Flowering Season: Late Spring and Summer | Exposure: Full sun | Moisture: Average to dry (prefers well drained, sandy soil) | USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9 | Nectar Value: 3/5 Host plant for Monarch, Queen
- Wendy’s Wish Salvia | Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ | Family: Lamiaceae | Origin: None (Hybrid) | Description: Herbaceous perennial to 3 ft. | Flowering Season: Spring to Fall | Exposure: Full Sun | Moisture: Average | USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11 | Nectar Value: 3/5 Good nectar source
- Indigo Porterweed | Stachytarpheta caatingensis | Family: Verbenaceae | Origin: Brazil | Description: Herbaceous perennial to 8 ft. | Flowering Season: Continuous w/o frost | Exposure: Full sun to partial Shade | Moisture: Average to dry | USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 | Nectar Value: 4/5 Great nectar source
- Lavender Lady | Passiflora x ‘Lavender Lady’ | Family: Passifloraceae | Origin: Brazil to Argentina | Description: Evergreen vine to 30 ft. | Flowering Season: Continuous w/o frost | Exposure: Full sun to partial sun | Moisture: Average (drought tolerant) | USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11 | Nectar Value: 1/5 Host plant for Gulf Fritillary
- Truly Tiny Banana | Musa 'Truly Tiny' | Family: Musaceae | Origin: Original species from SE Asia | Description: Evergreen edible fruit to 4 ft. | Flowering Season: Spring to early Summer (fruit by Fall) | Exposure: Full sun to partial shade | Moisture: Average (well-drained) | USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 | Nectar Value: 1/5 Nectar for bees
- Lime Sizzler Firebush | Hamelia patens 'Lime Sizzler' | Family: Rubiaceae | Origin: Hybrid, parent from peninsular Florida to South America | Description: Evergreen/perennial shrub to 3-4 ft. | Flowering Season: Continuous without frost | Exposure: Full sun to partial shade | Moisture: average, drought tolerant | USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 | Nectar Value: 4/5 Great nectar source
- Skyflower | Hydrolea corymbosa | Family: Hydrophyllaceae | Origin: South Carolina to Florida and Alabama | Description: Herbaceous perennial to 3 ft. | Flowering Season: Summer | Exposure: Full sun to partial shade | Moisture: Moist to aquatic | USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11 | Nectar Value: 3/5 Good nectar source
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Help close the gap between urban students and nature
The Florida Museum of Natural History is raising funds and accepting plant donations for butterfly gardens in area schools.
Museum scientists partnered with Duval and Williams elementary schools to open children’s eyes to the unique metamorphosis that occurs during butterfly development and the responsibilities involved in caring for a garden. The Museum is now raising funds and requesting donations of plants to create additional butterfly gardens throughout the Alachua County area.
Read more or donate today! Donations may be made online, by visiting the Florida Museum’s plant sale or by calling the Museum Collectors Shop, 352-273-2041.