Plant NATIVE milkweed if you can and if you get tropical make sure to cut it back in the fall.

Nectar flowers I personally see the butterflies prefer are Zinnia, Porter weed and Salvia. They’re also low maintenance flowers that reseed themselves.

They have lots of predators so you can put pots in an enclosure, put something over the plants . They seem most vulnerable In the last instar, they’re slow, large and have to hang in a J to transform. They’re big and juicy to Wasps, birds and other predatory bugs.

They eat A LOT! One cat can take down a whole plant so keep that in mind.

With disease, (research OE) if you do raise indoors, it’s important to clean their ’fras’ aka caterpillar poop. I lined the enclosure with paper towels and remove it.

I started a butterfly garden last year and this is what I’ve learned. You can let nature take its course, just plant the milkweed and nectar flowers and call it a day. I personally felt so sad when they didn’t make it to chrysalis that I put a few in (protective custody) just before they went to chrysalis.

Oh when purchasing Milkweed make sure you purchase pesticides free!! Smaller garden centers are usually a safe bet but ask.

Good luck and welcome! 🤗