Zebra Swallowtail

Pawpaw Tree

The Pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba), is not the winner of the category “most spectacular color in the woods” during autumn. But it does have a wonderful fruit if you can beat the bears to that fruit. Bears love those Pawpaws.

There are many Pawpaw trees here in the mountains, including ones that I’ve planted here surrounding my cabin. My main reason for planting Pawpaws is this tree is the host plant of the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly (Eurytides marcellus). A butterfly that I love to see. Not the most abundant butterfly up here but perhaps more so because of my plantings.

Black, White, And Orange

The reason I grow Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), it is the Zebra Swallowtail’s (Eurytides marcellus) host plant. And it is one of the many butterflies that I adore seeing. Here, one is enjoying the nectar of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Butterfly Weed

An incredibly beautiful Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) on the aptly named Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) which provides nectar to many pollinators. Native to much of the United States, from Maine to South Dakota to the desert southwest to Florida.

Another pollinator that nearly matches the color of the Butterfly Weed, Great Spangled Fritilary (Speyeria cybele). Along with butterflies, bees and wasps are common pollinators.

Butterfly Weed is the larval host plant of Queen and Monarch butterflies, and Dogbane Tiger Moth, Milkweed Tussock Moth, and Unexpected Cycnia Moth.

Caution: Butterfly Weed is toxic to humans and animals.