Cathy,

My Rue has grown quite tall-approximately four to five feet at least. It is also quite 'bushy' in that it grows outward as well.

Legally, you can only ship live butterflies (eggs, larvae) within your own state without having to get a permit from the USDA.

Cathy, there is a mail order place, and I always get the name wrong. Misssherry and others know the name. It has the word Shady or Maple or something in it.

I, too, am trying to grow enough rue to send away for GSTs. I have two batches growing and just bought two more plants yesterday.

There are only about 10 different larva the place I am thinking of can ship here, but GSTs are definately on the list. I am thinking you are in PA or NJ from previous posts though my brain isnt working this early in the morning!

I, too, am curious about how much rue I will need before I send away for larva so will be waiting to see what responses you get.

Wow, Sherry, 4-5 feet?! Geez, I didn't know it would get like that, but of course with you being in Southern Cal, it probably makes a difference, huh? I wasn't counting on mine getting that tall. I want to plant it today and wasn't sure how far apart to space them. Thanks for letting me know about the butterflies. I guess I'll have to try to find someone within PA then if I would ever want to trade.

Gwynne, I think the place you're thinking of is Shady Oak Butterfly Farm. I'll include the link for you. The butterflies that they can send us here in PA are the Giant Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Gulf Fritillary, Monarch, and American Lady.

You're right, I'm in PA, about an hour north of Harrisburg and 10 miles west of the Susquehanna River. I didn't check into the prices though. Depending how much it is, I might just to see if I can just attract them here, but I'm not waiting 19 years like I've been waiting to attract purple martins and still not have them. I never saw one in person, and I think they look really pretty in pictures.

Cathy

Here is a link that might be useful: Shady Oak Butterfly Farm

I am in Houston and my rue plants have gotten about 2 1/2 feet tall. I have several plants in the bed around the tree that gets mostly shade, with a lot of other plants and have them spaced about 6-8 inches apart. When I had rue planted in full sun, it was too much heat and they died. They have survived really well in the shade and have attracted the giant swallowtails, but the lemon tree has done a better job of getting eggs laid on it.

I brought some rue in to feed my cats and found that if a large enough stem is brought in and left in water, it will sprout new leaves! I was not aware that rue could be grown from cuttings.
Mechelle

I'm in zone 5. My rue is planted in a whiskey barrel-over 5 yrs ago. It get about 6-7 hrs of Morning Sun. It can get to be a 2 1/2 ft tall and wide.
I have tried planting in my strip beds, but they are to wet and they never overwinter.
I get GST visiting once in awhile-but never as often as I would like.
It always amazes me that it takes so little rue to feed a caterpillar compared to what my Monarchs consume.
Connie

Mechelle, I guess with your Texas heat your Rue plants prefer the shade. Whatever makes them happy, huh? :) I hope that mine only get about as tall as what yours do. I really didn't want them to get too huge and overshadow my 3-ft high zinnias. Of course, I don't think that's going to happen this year. I'm glad to hear that your plants have attract the GST's for you. I guess it's good that you also have the lemon tree if they like that even better. I didn't know either that Rue can be grown from cuttings.

Connie, I would assume that your whiskey barrel stays out all winter then and the cold doesn't affect the plant even though the roots are above ground. I think I might like to try something like that. I have a big container here that I could put some garden soil it and put some a Rue plant or two in it. I just didn't know if they'd overwinter in that okay, but if it works for you, it should work for me too.

I know that the map for GST shows it found in PA, so I'm hoping that I can attract some here. I've never seen any, but I didn't have anything out for them last year to lay their eggs on. As of yesterday, now they have a host plant available here. I'm glad to hear that it doesn't take much Rue to feed a caterpillar. So if I ever would decide to order any, I guess I'd be safe with ordering a dozen. My plants are only small right now so am not sure how long it would take a caterpillar to eat one to the bare bones, but I have pretty many plants.

Cathy

Yes Cathy, It is out all winter, and because it is next to our deck, it is often totally covered with snow (which actually may protect it)as when the deck is cleared that is where the snow goes.
I also started one last fall and it was in a small gallon container that spent the winter beside my barn and it is doing great also.
I have a milkweed plant in the whiskey barrel and I always plant a snap dragon in there too-never know who may visit.
As for the rest of my beds they are filled with milkweed.
Connie

Cathy, yes, that is the site I am talking about. I just wonder how much of a host plant I need to make it worth my while to place an offer. I would want to order at least 10 or 12 larva.

The GSTs actually have two places they can visit as I have some rue out for them as well. I have even found an egg on it though I would imagine it is a BST egg.

Connie, I guess I'll put mine next to a building then just to make sure that its somewhat protected. We can get some pretty rough winters here. I bet yours look nice in the containers. That's nice, you never know who might visit. :) I have lots of milkweed too, more than I do any other plant. I know what pigs those Monarchs are. :)

Gwen, Yes, I figured that was the site. I have it saved it my favorites along with a gazillion other butterfly websites. Ha. I really don't know what to tell you about the rue since I'm pretty new to all this myself. I don't have any GSTs or BSTs here, but I have some food for them, rue, parsley, fennel, dill....where are you guys and gals??!!

Cathy

gwynne2006
You can tell if it is GSW (orange colored egg) and black eastern swallowtail is (yellow-yellow green)

It is a BST then. Only my second egg so I am not too familiar with identifying eggs.

For me, when the egg is first hatched it looks white. The next day, they turn more yellow. They turn dark, almost black, when the cat is ready to emerge.

GST eggs are orange for me. Someone said back in another thread they were yellow, but they've never been yellow for me. That's how I can tell the difference between GSTs and BSTs.

So far this year, the Rue has produced a few cats, but the fennel is providing more. They will, however, switch to another host, like fennel or Rue, if you feed it to them.

Susan

I noticed with my first egg it was clear, then after a couple of days it started turning a pinkish peach, then got dark and hatched the next morning. I think it was fresh when I found it and it took five days to hatch. In fact, I missed an egg because the same day it hatched, I found another tiny caterpillar on the same batch of parsley. That same night, I found the fresh egg that I have now, on the rue. This is still in the clear stages, maybe turning a little pinkisk. Definately no orange. I am going to have to send away for some GST eggs as I dont think I will get any on my own.

Gwynne - one thing I have learned (as it has been driven into me with a very large hammer over time), is never say never.

You see, the thing about butterflies is that we really don't have any control over whether they will appear or not, whether they will lay eggs or not, or when we are likely to see them in our gardens eventually. The only thing I can say is that if you keep gardening on your balcony with relatively the same host plants you have, you will eventually see some. It may not be this year, or even next year, but they'll come.

I've had the tiniest patch of Aristolochia clematitis for 4-5 years now, and just got a miniscule population of Pipevine Swallowtails this year for the first time.

A lot of times, other people from Oklahoma, especially those who live in rural areas who get many more than I do, get a lot earlier in the season than I do. It just depends. Last year was the first time I ever got GSTs early in the year. I usually get them in late summer-early fall. I haven't had any this early this year, so I'm not expecting any, if I get them at all, until late summer. If I do, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Sometimes it's the anticipation that makes it all worthwhile. Once you get your first GST, then it will be waiting for your first PVS or GF, or Variegated Frit, or something else. It's like putting a carrot in front of the horse's nose. We just keep being led into this marvelous journey. And, as my mother used to say, a watched pot never boils, if you get my drift. LOL!

Last year I was hootin' and hollerin' because we were in a drought, and I hadn't seen ANY butterflies to speak of. This year has been a wet season, so we've had many more. Also, last year I was able to attract a lot of the Silvery Checkerspots and Bordered Patches with nectar, and this year I have the cats! It seems like once they DO find your garden, they'll be back with tiny little gifts.

Susan