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To attract butterflies, put in a variety of plants with different heights and growth habits, so they will bloom at various times. Use a mix- ture of flower colors, shapes and sizes, but group members of the same species together. Plant them in full sun or partial shade. Check the sunlight, water and soil needs of each plant to determine the best location. Use both larval host plants and nectar sources for butterflies at all stages of their lives. Hold the pesticides. Numerous native plants attract butterflies: • Shrubs: coral bean, firebush, native lantana, wild coffee and blue prostrate porterweed. • Wildflowers: mistflower, Tampa verbena, beach verbena, tropical sage, goldenrod, scorpion's tail, giant ironweed, blazing star and starry rosinweed. • Vines: coral honeysuckle, climbing aster, trumpet creeper and wild allamanda. A variety of native plants attract caterpillars: • Trees: Florida red bay, wild lime, sweet bay magnolia, sweet acacia and native tamarind. • Shrubs: senna, aka cassia. • Herbs: fennel, parsley and mock bishop's weed. • Wildflowers: twinflower, milkweed, false nettle, partridge pea, frog fruit, pencil flow- ers and water hyssop. • Vines: corky stem passion vine, maypop passion vine and white twinevine. Non-native nectar plants also draw butter- flies: old fashioned red penta, upright purple porterweed, Caribbean firebush, golden dew- drop, firespike, pineland lantana, jatropha, Mexican flame vine, yellow buttercup and white buttercup. % Long-tailed Skipper on pickerel weed. PLANTING FOR BUTTERFLIES IS NOT DIFFICULT By Laurel Schiller Contributing Writer Sarasota News Leader May 16, 2014 Page 106