The message
from "Spider" contains these words:

Good to hear about another butterfly plant - I'm collecting them at the
moment. I know Inulas like reliably moist soil. How are you growing yours?
Do they need a bog garden, or will they survive in ordinary border soil (I'm
on clay here)? Is mildew a problem during drought? I would be grateful
for your advice.

I've got inula hookeri, much shorter, which is also a magnet to bees
and butterflies. The shaggy yellow flowers seem to go on and on for
months.

I didn't know inulas like moist soil :~}, so mine's been deprived;
nevertheless it's thriving. The bed it's in is new, sandy and a bit
raised; very free draining and not rich soil. I'm in the middle of
making a bog garden so will transfer a bit there tomorrow.

Hebes are also attracting butterflies here atm.

Janet.