That is very interesting! I'm glad you found this. A lot of us have raised PV, but I have never heard of this plant. BTW, I'm raising some PV cats on A contorta.

What species/cultivar/hybrid Butterfly Bush did you plant? I see you say it is Buddleia davidii, but there are lots of hybrids out there. Not all are thugs. Depends on the variety you planted. Depending on the kind of Aster you're growing, some Aster species serve as a larval host for various checkerspots and crescents in California. Some species of Aster are definite bullies in a garden and as Larry_Gene said, will quickly overtake your other plants. Your Creeping Phlox, for instance, may be at risk by the other larger plants surrounding it. Milkweed species native to California include Asclepias eriocarpa, A. fascularis (narrow leaf milkweed), A. speciosa (showy milkweed, as Terrene mentioned), A. cordifolia (heartleaf or purple milkweed), A. californica (as the name implies, Califoria milkweed), A. vestita (wooly milkweed), A. eriocarpa (woolypod milkweed). Seeds may be hard to find. One source I know of is Milkweed Farms. Las Pillitas has a nursery in Santa Margarita, and another one in Escondido. Don't know if you are within comfortable driving distance to these nurseries or not. It would be well worth the trip. Las Pallitos has a humongous Salvia collection, too. You can get mail order, too, I believe. Check out their website at www.laspillitas.com. As to the rock, you can use a decorative stepping stone as a basking rock, which would be attractive in your garden bed. To your host plant list, you may want to consider adding a couple of milkweed species, and perhaps at least one of the vines I mentioned, Passion Vine for the Gulf Frits, or Pipevine (Aristolochia) for the Pipevine Swallowtails. I see there is a fence along the back of the raised bed. You could put it to the right of the bed, and fix up something for the vines to climb up along the fence. P. incarnata is pretty invasive, so one of the blue or white flowering cultivars (I mentioned 'Lavendar Lady', but P. caerulea would be another good one, with white flowers), or others that are hardy in your zone. Check some out at Grassy Knoll Exotic Plants at http://gkexoticplants.com/catalog/Passiflora-2-1.html. They carry at least 120 varieties and have an excellent rating on that "other website". If MissSherry comes in here, she can give you info on what grows well for her. Aristolochias can be difficult to find as well, and you would want to make sure you don't purchase A. gigantea, which is toxic to the Pipevine caterpillars. There is a native pipevine, A. californica. You can probably find this at a native plant nursery in your area. It is a typical perennial in that 1st year sleeps, 2nd year creeps, 3rd year leaps, so don't plan on it growing large enough to support many caterpillars for 3 years at least. These two butterflies are big, bold, and beautiful. Be sure to check out our FAQ pages, too, for more info on nectar plants, host plants, sources for seeds and plants, and info on raising caterpillars if you are interested. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Xerces Society Article on California Native Milkweeds

Hello everyone, Here is my updated list for the swap: Haves: Pink Turks Cap -10 Red Yurks Cap -1 Mexican Heather - 3 or 4 Purple Fountain Grass - 2 Yellow/Orange Brugmansia - 2 or 3 Yellow/Pink Brugmansia - 2 or 3 Yellow Iris (will dig if anyone wants them) Yellow/Orange Bulbine (will dig if anyone wants them) Confederate Hibiscus - Cuttings only if someone wants them Cape Honeysuckle - Coral - 3 (Special trades only) Variegated Magig Lantern Abutilon (cuttings only) (Special Trade only) Magic Lantern Abutilon (cuttings only) (Special Trade only) Double Purple Althea Hibiscus (Cuttings only) Texas Sage - 2 (rooted & potted) Special trade only or make me an offer I can try to have some of the cutting offers rooted by the time of the swap but I am rappidly running out of time. I am going to try to take cuttings & start them this coming Monday so may not be rooted by the time of the swap. Books: 1 Book by: Better Homes & Gardens: Roses, The Gardner's Collection 1 Book by: Better Homes & Gardens: Annuals 1 Book by: Lawn & Garden: Gardening to Attract Birds & Butterflies 1 Book by: Lawn & Garden: Landscape Gardening 1 Book by: Ortho : All About Annuals 1 Book by: Ortho: Color With Annuals 1 Book by: Ortho: All About Water Gardening 1 Boob by: Ortho: All About Garden Pools & Fountains 1 Book by: David Squire: Herbaceous Perennials (Pocket Gardening Guide) Wants: Elephant Ears (Any but the typical large green ones) Plain Orange Bulbine NOT the yellow/orange Lady Baltimore Hibiscus Lord Baltimore Hibiscus Heartleaf Hibiscus Ornamental Grasses - any but the purple fountain grass or lemon grass as I have these Purple Iris Pineapple sage Tempt me as I like unusual plants & variegated plants

Did you have any success with your seed? Thank You for the tip, I will see if they have any information that they are willing to give. I would like to have them in my garden area if I am to water them and that is mostly part shade. The clay area is western exposure and the area with the eastern sun is caliche with a thin layer of brought in soil. The aristolochia fimbriata does well in part shade.