A pic would be helpful if you can post or link to one. Also, what kind of tree is it? I may or may not be able to id it (likely one of the other people on this forum would do better at an id). -Jmcat

Iris, what kind of plant are those cats ravaging? The Mexican Sweet Herb is very pretty. I guess you could call it a frogfruit, because it's so closely related. It looks like it would make a nice front of the border, or container plant. Do you get many butterflies on the flowers? Do uou know what species of them are the best as host plants. One side of my house is shaded by Oak, and Cottonwood. Grass won't grow there so I have ferns and Hostas, and there's a few shade loving Carex sedge in there too. I noticed a bunch of little plantains in there, that are tiny because of the dry, hot, weather. I'm going to start watering and fertilizing them for the Buckeyes. When I went to harvest a syriaca stalk tonight, I found yet another Monarch cat on it.

It is indeed very pretty. I believe it's a scribbled sallow/Sympistis perscripta - click here - Scribbled Sallow Sherry

It's probably a tobacco budworm. They will turn pink when they eat red flowers. Tobacco Budworm Sherry