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Pawpaw is the "understory fruit tree."  

Your pawpaw patch (ButterFly Farm)

is key to helping this winged, work of art,

the zebra swallowtail. ​

ButterFly Farm (BFF) Site Selection

• Parental Permission: Always consult your parents before choosing a location to plant your BFF.

• Plant pawpaws under the canopy of larger trees for optimal growth.

• Ideal Conditions: Select a hidden, shaded area protected from the sun.

• Build a watering ring (moat) or berm around your newly planted tree and water WEEKLY for 2 years!

• Safety from Equipment: Keep the BFF away from mowing and other farm machinery activities.

• Topography: Utilize drainage areas or draws between fields as excellent micro-habitats.

• Lagoon Perimeters: Fenced-in lagoons work well if they are safe from mowers, but avoid standing water.

 

Planting Guidelines

• Tree Count: One pawpaw tree is acceptable, but planting two genetically different trees maximizes fruit yield.

• Expansion: If you have an existing patch, transplant sucker trees nearby to expand the network.

• Genetics: Always mix and match genetic varieties within a patch if possible. 

 

Expand and Share Your Patch

• Team Effort: Farming Zebra Swallowtail butterflies requires community collaboration.

• Framework of Thought: Focus on ABUNDANCE and root for your neighbors BFF to be more successful than yours.  When you empower other BFFs you are empowering your own BFF. 

• Share Patches: Share your growing pawpaw patch with neighbors to create new butterfly habitats.

• Winter Transplanting: Dig up and relocate sucker trees after winter in early spring to build new farms.

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Welcome to the zebra swallowtail ButterFly Farm (BFF).