Name: Porterweed, blue porterweed, snakeweed

Botanical name:Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Description: A native wildflower that has upright stems of blue, nectar-laced flowers that open just a few at a time, making it a nice addition to any butterfly garden. It is the host plant for the Tropical Buckeye butterfly, and a nectar plant for many others. It is low-growing, and one way to distinguish it from nonnative porterweeds is its branching: They typically spread horizontally, according to native plant expert Roger Hammer. Hammer also points out that the serrated leaves have their ''teeth'' pointing toward the tip. The plant gets woody after a year, and only lives about three years. But it will reseed itself. It's in the verbena family, and porter, which is a dark-brown ale, is made from the plant for various home remedies in the Caribbean.

Height: 10 inches

Light: Full sun

Culture: Very little care is required, other than occasional watering in very dry spells. Prune it back after it gets woody.

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