Jeff, thanks for catching my over-sight. Actually, Giant Swallowtails do come through my area, as according to a very reputable web-source. I suppose the only host that they can use here is Northern Pricklyash or the non-native introduction of Rue, which I won't grow because of its ill-health effects. I have a couple large Linder benzoin shrubs - never have I found a single cat on them; I occasionally see the Spicebush Butterfly around, however.

CORRECTION! The American Painted Lady is Vanessa virginienses; not Vanessa cardui. The above should have read as follows: THIS thread is ONLY for the host plants of the: AMERICAN PAINTED LADY(Vanessa VIRGINIENSIS). 1. It would be interesting to know what species of butterfly HOST PLANTS different gardners have observed certain butterflies using in their respective regions, first-hand. *Example: Some sites indicate Red Mulberry as a host for the Mourning Cloak Butterfly. It would be interesting to know if anyone can confirm this through personal experience in observation; likewise, it would be interesting if anyone has seen Mourning Cloaks use Morus alba, etc. *Another example: Some sites claim that the Eastern Tiger Swallow Tail Butterfly uses Lindera benzoin - a known host of the Spicebush Swallowtail; and the other way around: Some sites claim that Swampbay Magnolia is the host of the Spicebush Swallowtail, although it is primarily described as the host of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (in the south?). This may be a re-circulated error(?) 2. If you have two or more host plants commonly known to be a host plant of a certain butterfly, it would be interesting to know which is more attractive. *Example: Common hosts of the Red-Admiral Butterfly include: Tall Stinging Nettle; Stinging Nettle L.; Wood Nettle; False Nettle; & Canadian Clear-Weed Nettle. I intend to grow all of these. I would be able to eventually report which patch (each being 5' x 5') of Nettle spp. attracted the most Red-Admirals or associated brushfoots. _________________________________________________________ Note: There are websites that re-circulate misinformation and dubious information, so in this discussion thread, please exclusively present only your own personal observations. This should, hopefully, provide practical information when regionally applied in making decisions in host plant selection where space is limited, etc. -Steve

Well now, the Painted Ladies my daughter ordered fed on the green goop in the bottom of their larva cup. :) They did well on it, too -- we were 5 for 5 at release. You probably can't plant green goop, though.

It was second grade, so my memory may be faulty ... but I recall finding the cats on a willow bush, which would indicate something in the Pussy Willow category. Jeff