Paw paw trees (Asimina Triloba) do well further north. They tend not to grow well above zone 8 or 9. Many years ago I purchased the tree form online and they have survived here, but never attracted a Zebra Swallowtail. There are many different species of paw paws and even within a particular specie there are variations.

The paw paws that do well here in most of Florida are the smaller species. I think the ones that do best in my growing zone are the obovata, the pygmea and the parviflora. I don't believe these species can be grown from cuttings. They have very deep tap roots and cannot be dug up and transplanted with much success.

For now, I've given up trying to grow these paw paws. I will enjoy seeing the swallowtails in the park.

I have three pawpaws in my yard. The woods behind me have numerous pawpaws. A guy across the street has two big pawpaws. With all that, I've seen one ZST in the neighborhood and that was in 2005.

I saw a lot of ZSTs at my first house with no known pawpaws in the neighborhood. I believe it is 6 miles from where I live now.

That's a shame about the ZSTs. Have a friend who grows pawpaws and has not had one ZST.

How are the butterflies down in Florida? Im going down there for spring break and was wondering what is out?

Thanks Jacob

Hi, Jacob. It clearly depends upon where you are going in Florida. I think southern Florida has pretty much every butterfly that it normally has. For them butterfly season is all year, although I'm sure there are variations. Here in Central Florida I have seen pretty much all the major butterflies--just not in the numbers that will be here in a month or so. I still haven't seen a Black Swallowtail for some reason, but they should be around soon. I have seen only a few Tigers, but it has been raining a lot and they typically come out after the rain.

We have Monarchs in southern Florida year-round. I have them now, since the winter was so mild.

Not sure about northern Florida, but I know that they have some around now. If you visit a public garden you should see quite a few. If you want to see Zebra Swallowtails you will need to find a park and ask the rangers. Zebra Longwings are around now in Central Florida and, I'm sure, in southern Florida. I doubt that they have reached northern Florida yet.