What a stunning picture, Sandy!! I looked up bordered patch in my field guide, and it showed a lot of different variations in their look - the differences are such that you wouldn't know they're the same butterfly. I guess it's probably too late for cats, maybe next year. I'm so jealous! :) MissSherry

WELL, I am planning an entire GARDEN! Does that count? Since I have moved back to teaching middle school math, I figured I need to get a butterfly garden going. There IS a garden club and the teacher who is the advisor has quite a few Milkweed plants, courtesy of moi, but he doesn't really have a 'butterly garden,' per se. I am teaching a butterly science course in a few months and I think it is sort of important that I have an actual garden up. SO, I went ahead and planted a bunch of pots of A. curassavica this week AND bought a Monarda ('Coyote Mint') and dug up and transplanted bunches of pots of Cheeseweed (Malva parviflora) and I have a humongous potted Buddleia that's been waiting to go in the ground and...you get the drift. DH said, "You may want to think about WHERE you want the garden" but I already have an idea where...right out the front of my classroom door (I only have ONE door). After all, it would make sense, right? So, I think I shall get my booty in gear this week and start digging around the area. :) I do have a number of kids who are in my informal 'butterfly club' and they've been bugging me about when our next meeting is (we've had a few before the holiday). I figure this is perfect! Junior high kids are good for labourers...hehehe! Gotta love it!

The numbered plants are those that somebody on the Butterfly Gardening forum has used to SUCCESSFULLY rear caterpillars to adulthood or has actually observed the caterpillar eating. If there is no numbered plant, then nobody on our forum can vouch for any specific plant. If a butterfly in the list below has no numbered plant, research the plant family shown for hostplant candidates. Several forum members report that using nursery or home-improvement store plants can be poisonous to caterpillars and adult butterflies due to pesticides or other chemicals. You have three main options: 1--raise the plant from seed (best). 2--prune the plant, do not put it in a prominent location, and wait for some new growth before presenting the plant to butterflies (good). 3--buy nursery/store plants, wash them thoroughly (fair; it is hard to get all the chemical off of the plant). SWALLOWTAILS Giant Swallowtail - Citrus family, Rutaceae 1. Ptelea trifoliata - hop tree, wafer ash 2. Zanthoxylum clava-herculis - hercules club 3. Zanthoxylum fagara - wild lime 4. Zanthoxylum americanum - prickly ash 5. Citrus spp. - various species, including cultivated 6. Murraya paniculata - orange jasmine 7. Ruta graveolens - rue 8. Dictamnus albus - gas plant Spicebush Swallowtail - Laurel family, lauraceae 1. Persea borbonia - redbay 2. Persea palustris - swampbay 3. Sassafras albidum - sassafras 4. Lindera benzoin - spicebush 5. Cinnamomum camphora - camphor tree Pipevine swallowtail caterpillars will die if raised on tropical pipevines. Please only use the pipevines on the list. Pipevine Swallowtail - Pipevine family, Aristolochia 1. Aristolochia macrophylla - big leaf pipevine 2. Aristolochia tomentosa - woolly pipevine 3. Aristolochia serpentaria - Virginia snakeroot 4. Aristolochia californica - California pipevine 5. Aristolochia fimbriata - white-veined Duchman's pipe 6. Aristolochia trilobata - Dutchman's Pipe 7. Aristolochia clematitis - Birthwort 8. Aristolochia watsonii - Desert pipevine Anise Swallowtail - Carrot family, Apiaceae 1. Pimpinella anisum - anise 2. Foeniculum vulgare - fennel 3. Lomatium - parsnip Eastern Black Swallowtail - Rue family, Rutaceae - Carrot family, Apiaceae 1. Ruta graveolens - rue 2. Anethum graveolens - dill 3. Foeniculum vulgare - fennel 4. Petroselinum crispum - parsley 5. Zizia aurea - golden Alexander Palamedes Swallowtail - Laurel family, lauraceae 1. Persea borbonia - redbay 2. Persea palustris - swampbay 3. Sassafras albidum - sassafras Zebra Swallowtail - Pawpaw family, annonaceae 1. Asimina triloba - common pawpaw 2. Asimina pygmaea - dwarf pawpaw 3. Annona muricata - soursop Polydamas Swallowtail - Pipevine family, Aristolochia 1. Aristolochia elegans - calico flower 2. Aristolochia gigantea - giant pipevine 3. Aristolochia fimbriata - white-veined Duchman's pipe Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - Rose family, Rosaceae - Magnolia family, Magnoliaceae - Olive family, Oleaceae 1. Prunus serotina - wild black cherry 2. Liriodendron tulipifera - tulip poplar 3. Ptelea trifoliata - wafer ash, hoptree 4. Fraxinus velutina - Arizona ash tree 5. Magnolia virginiana - sweetbay magnolia Canadian Swallowtail 1. Populus tremuloides - quaking aspen Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail - Cherry family, Prunus - Ash family, Fraxinus - Citrus family, Ptelea 1. Prunus virginiana - chokecherry 2. Ptelea crenulata - California hoptree 3. Ptelea trifoliata - Common hoptree Pale Swallowtail - Buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae 1. Rhamnus californicus - coffeeberry 2. Ceanothus arboreus - California lilac Western Tiger Swallowtail - Willow family, Salicaceae WHITES and SULPHURS Sulphurs - Bean family, fabaceae Cloudless Sulphur 1. Cassia alata - Candlestick plant 2. Senna hebecarpa - wild senna Clouded (Common) Sulphur 1. White or red clover 2. Baptisia australis - wild indigo Orange-barred Sulphur Sleepy Orange 1. Cassia obtusifolia - sicklepod 2. Cassia bicapsularis - Christmas senna 3. Cassia surattensis - glaucous cassia 4. Senna mexicana - Bahama senna 5. Senna ligustrina - privet senna 6. Cassia javanica - apple blossom cassia, pink cassia 7. Chamaechrysta fasciculata - partridge pea 8. Senna alata - Candlestick cassia, candlebush Cabbage White - Mustard family, brassicaceae 1. The garden vegetable cabbage 2. Tropaeolum spp. - nasturtium California Dogface - Bean family, fabaceae 1. Amorpha californica - false indigo Dainty Sulphur - Aster family, asteraceae 1. Bidens spp. - Spanish needles Great Southern White - Mustard family, brassicaceae - Nasturtium family, tropaeolaceae - Saltwort family, bataceae Common White - Mustard family, brassicaceae Sara orangetip - Mustard family , brassicaceae Orange (Alfalfa) Sulphur - Bean family, fabaceae GOSSAMERS (blues, coppers, hairstreaks, Harvester) Gray Hairstreak - Mallow family, malvaceae 1. Sida spp. - broomweed 2. Hibiscus moscheutos - swamp rose mallow 3. Hibiscus coccineus - swamp hibiscus/Texas star 4. Desmodium genus - beggarweed 5. Trifolium repens - white clover 6. Medicago sativa - alfalfa Juniper Hairstreak 1. Juniperus virginiana - eastern redcedar Cassius Blue - Leadwort family, plumbaginaceae 1. Plumbago auriculata - leadwort 2. Plumbago scandens - wild plumbago Echo Blue (aka Spring Azure or Summer Azure) - Buckthorn family, rhamnaceae 1. Ceanothus spp. - California buckeye, California lilac Achmon Blue - Wild buckwheat family, polygonaceae 1. Eriogonum spp. - buckwheat Eastern Tailed Blue - clovers 1. Securigera (Coronilla) varia - crown vetch Atala - Zamia family, zamiaceae Great Purple (or Blue) Hairstreak - Mistletoe family, loranthaceae Harvester - In America, our only carnivorous butterfly. They feed on woolly aphids of the genera schizoneura and pemphigus. BRUSH-FOOTS (admirals, fritillaries, crescentspots, checkerspots, anglewings, ladies, tortoiseshells, leafwings, patches) Buckeye - Snapdragon family, scrophulariaceae - Plantain family, plantaginaceae - Vervain family, verbenaceae 1. Agalinis fasciculata - wild foxglove 2. Dyschoriste spp. - twinflower 3. Ruellia caroliniana - wild petunia 4. Ruellia succulenta - thickleaf wild petunia 5. Verbena hastata - blue vervain 6. Orthocarpus spp. - owl's clover 7. Plantago lanceolata - English plantain/ribgrass 8. Mimulus - monkey flower 9. Linaria vulgaris - butter & eggs 10. Linaria canadensis - blue toadflax 11. Linaria purpurea - purple toadflax 12. Galvezia speciosa - Island bush snapdragon 13. Diascia spp. - twinspur 14. Plantago major - greater or common plantain Most red-flowered and a few blue flowered passifloras will not support the butterflies that use these vines in the United States. Many red-flowered tropical passionvines are on the market. Please do not use them - they are similar enough to our own passionvines that our female butterflies will lay eggs on them, but the caterpillars will soon die. Gulf Fritillary - Passionvine family, passifloraceae 1. Passiflora incarnata - maypop 2. Passiflora suberosa - corky stemmed passionvine 3. Passiflora lutea - yellow passionflower 4. Passiflora alto - 'Amethyst'/'Lavender Lady'/'Star of Mikan' 5. Passiflora caerulea - blue passionflower/'Waterloo Blue' 6. Passiflora incarnata x cinnicata - incense passionflower 7. Passiflora vitifolia x caerulea - passionflower 'Lady Margaret' 8. Passiflora biflora - twin flower passionflower Zebra Longwing - Passionvine family, passifloraceae 1. Passiflora suberosa - corky stemmed passionvine 2. Passiflora biflora - two-flower passionvine 3. Passiflora lutea - yellow passionvine 4. Passiflora incarnata - purple passionflower or Maypops Ruddy Daggerwing - Fig family, moraceae 1. Ficus aurea - Florida strangler fig 2. Ficus citrifolia - wild banyan 3. Ficus benjamina - weeping fig 4. Ficus macrocarpa - Australian banyan Julia - Passionvine family, passifloraceae 1. Passiflora suberosa - corky stemmed passionvine 2. Passiflora lutea - yellow passionflower 3. Passiflora incarnata - maypop Painted Lady - Aster family, asteraceae 1. Borage 2. Sunflower 3. Malva sylvestris - High mallow 4. Malva parviflora - cheeseweed 5. Lavatera maritima - tree mallow 6. Thistles American Painted Lady - Aster family, asteraceae 1. Gnaphalium obtusifolium - cudweed, sweet everlasting 2. Gnaphalium falcatum - cudweed 3. Helichrysum petiolatum - licorice plant 4. Helichrysum thianschanicum - licorice icicles 5. Anaphalis margaritacea - pearly everlasting 6. Antennaria plantaginifolia - plantain-leaved pussy toes 7. Artemesia ludoviciana - Prairie Sage West Coast Lady - Mallow family, malvaceae 1. Lavatera maritima - tree mallow 2. Althea rosea - common hollyhock 3. Malva neglecta - common mallow Red-spotted Purple - Rose family, rosaceae - Willow family,salicaceae - Poplar family, populus 1. Salix nigra - black willow 2. Salix caroliniana - Carolina willow 3. Prunus serotina - wild black cherry 4. Prunus cerasifera - purple leaf plum 5. Malus angustifolia - Southern or wild crabapple 6. "hybrid crabapple" Variegated Fritillary - Passionvine family, passifloraceae - Violet family, viola 1. Passiflora incarnata - maypop 2. Viola floridana - common violet 3. Viola soraria - woolly blue violet 4. Viola tricolor - Johnny Jump-ups 5. Viola x Wittrockiana - pansies White Peacock - Snapdragon family, scrophulariaceae - Vervain family, verbenaceae 1. Bacopa caroliniana - water hyssop, lemon bacopa 2. Bacopa monnieri - water hyssop, herb of grace Viceroy - Willow family, salicaceae - Poplar family, populus 1. Salix nigra - black willow 2. Salix caroliniana - Carolina willow 3. Salix caprea - goat willow Phaon Crescentspot - Vervain family, verbenaceae 1. Phyla nodiflora - fogfruit Silvery Checkerspot 1. Echinacea purpurea - purple coneflower 2. Echinacea tennesseensis - Tennessee coneflower 3. Echinacea pallida - pale coneflower 4. Rudbeckia hirta - black-eyed susan 5. Liatris spicata - blazing star/gayfeather Baltimore Checkerspot 1. Plantago lanceolata - English or narrow-leaved plantain 2. Chelone glabra - white turtlehead 3. Chelone lyonii - turtlehead "hot lips" Question Mark - Nettle family, urticaceae - Elm family, ulmus 1. Humulus lupus - hops vine California Tortoiseshell - Buckthorn family, rhamnaceae 1. Ceanothus spp. Red Admiral - Nettle family, urticaceae 1. Urtica spp. - stinging nettle Goatweed Leafwing - Croton family, euphorbiaceae 1. Croton capitatum - goatweed Hackberry Emperor - Elm family, ulmaceae - Hackberry family, celtis 1. Celtis spp. - hackberry, sugarberry Great spangled Fritilary - Violet family, viola Mourning Cloak - Willow family, salicaceae - Cottonwood family, populus - Elm family, ulmus 1. Salix matsudana - corkscrew willow White Admiral - Birch family, betula - Willow family, salicaceae - Poplar family, populus 1. Prunus serotina - wild black cherry Lorquin's Admiral - Willow family, salicaceae California Sister - Oak family, quercus Malachite - Acanthus family, acanthaceae Bordered Patch - Asteraceae - sunflower family 1. Wedelia hispida - Zexmenia 2. Verbesina encelioides - Golden Crownbeard MILKWEED BUTTERFLIES Monarch - Milkweed family, asclepiadaceae 1. Asclepias currasavica - tropical/scarlet milkweed 2. Asclepias incarnata - swamp milkweed 3. Cynanchum laeve - honeyvine 4. Asclepias fascicularis - narrow-leaf milkweed 5. Asclepias speciosa - showy milkweed 6. Asclepias physocarpa - Balloon or Swan plant 7. Calotropis gigantea - giant milkweek or crown flower Queen - Milkweed family, asclepiadaceae 1. Sarcostemma clausa - whitevine 2. Asclepias currasavica - tropical/scarlet milkweed SKIPPERS Brazilian Skipper - Canna family, cannaceae - Arrowroot family, marantaceae 1. Thalia dealbata - powdery thalia Fiery Skipper - Grass family, Poaceae 1. Bermuda grass - Cynodon dactylon Silver-spotted Skipper - Bean family, fabaceae 1. Amorpha fruticosa - desert false indigo 2. Robinia pseudoacacia - black locust Long-tailed Skipper - Bean family, fabaceae Hoary Edge Skipper - Bean family, fabaceae 1. Amorpha fruticosa - desert false indigo 0gt;

There is a lot of great information about what plants host what insects on this site: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info It's not really a guide about which plants to choose, but it's great reading once you've got a specific butterfly or a specific plant in mind. It also gives you some idea of what sort of environment the plants grow in (sun, soil, etc.). Growing in containers might be a challenge for some things that are taprooted like butterfly weed. My guess is that they would be rather short-lived in that situation, so you might have to start some each year to keep them going. One plant that comes to mind is Chamaecrista fasciculata (showy partridge pea). It's an annual that hosts sulfur butterflies. I would think it would do pretty well in pots and you could just make sure that some of the seed pods end up back in your pots at the end of the year.