Top 10 Swallowtail Host Plants and Flowers to Grow 

Specific host and nectar plants attract swallowtail butterflies for depositing eggs and feeding. These plants can support and attract these lovely butterflies to your yard.  

Dill   

Dill is an Eastern Black Swallowtail favourite host. Caterpillars eat leaves and stems.  

Fennel   

Another Eastern Black Swallowtail favourite. This feathery leaves is a great food source.  

Parsley   

Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars enjoy this common herb.  

Rue   

Giant Swallowtail caterpillars eat rue, a hardy perennial.  

Carrot  

Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars also eat carrot leaves  

Queen Anne Lace   

The wild carrot Queen Anne's Lace hosts Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars.  

Milkweed   

Milkweed hosts some Swallowtail butterflies, but Monarchs are better renowned.  

Spicebush   

This natural shrub hosts Spicebush Swallowtail eggs and caterpillars that eat the leaves.  

Prickly Ash   

The Giant Swallowtail lays eggs and caterpillars eat this plant.  

Wild Cherry   

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail larvae eat wild cherry leaves.  

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