Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is a native ground cover that loves to grow here. The flowers are tiny, visited by small bees and butterflies.
Frogfruit is also the host plant for Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon) butterflies, and I’m starting to see quite a few of them now. It’s hard to discern scale on these photos, but this small butterfly is only about an inch across.
Judging by this behavior nearby, there will later be caterpillars. I might need a magnifying glass to see them!
[…] And here is the Frogfruit area after its latest haircut. I have intentionally left it straggly because this is the only host plant for Phaon Crescent butterflies and I know that they are active right now. […]
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[…] Frogfruit is currently blooming, and the flower stems are short enough to escape mowing, so Phaon Crescent butterflies often visit, as do other small insects. It wasn’t until I started looking closely at Frogfruit that I […]
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Nature Lover.
Inquisitive Observer.
Student Gardener.
I invite you to join me on my journey to convert my sterile (from a nature point of view) new house lot to a healthy and diverse ecosystem, as I make discoveries, mistakes, and hopefully progress. I am not an expert or professional. The project started in February 2023 and the location is Seguin, Texas, USA.
Rewilding My Lot 
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