As a nature enthusiast, I see the fluttering presence of butterflies as a sign of a healthy and vibrant ecosystem.

Every spring, my garden and the nearby woods become a home for many Swallowtail Butterflies. As they go from plant to plant, they add a sense of wonder to my yard. Their visits, no matter how frequent, always fill me with joy.

Swallowtail Butterflies are a sight to behold with their striking colors, patterns, and distinct wing shape.

Not only do they add to the visual appeal of our gardens, but they also play a vital role in the local ecology as pollinators.

This article delves into the creation of a nurturing environment for Swallowtail Butterflies. You’ll learn how to invite and sustain these creatures in your sustainable garden.

Swallowtail Butterflies: The Basics

Species Overview

Family: Papillonidae

Genus: Papilio

In Latin, papilio means butterfly.

There are over 500 species within the swallowtail  (Papillonidae) family all over the world, with 30 species found in North America (Cornell).

Swallowtail Butterflies have distinct forked tails, similar to the swallowtail bird. They is quite a variety of color from species to species. The scope ranges from black to orange, and yellow to white.

Swallowtail Butterflies prefer habitats that provide them with the necessary resources for survival.

It’s important to note that your garden will need to support both their larval and adult life stages.

for the purposes of this article, I’ll be focusing on the Papilio genus, even though there are butterflies in the same family and with the name “Swallowtail” in other genera.

Want to learn more about the different Swallowtail Butterfly Species? Check out my Visual Guide to Common Swallowtail Butterfly Species found in the United States

Essential Elements of a Swallowtail Habitat

This list is arranged by state on its default setting, but you can also organize it by swallowtail butterfly species.

Click on your state and hover over each butterfly name to see its host plants.

I made this list because I wanted to know what swallowtail butterfly species were in my state, and the information on each butterfly’s host plants was on multiple pages across the internet.

So I collected all the information here for you in one spot, in case you’re looking for the same thing.

I hope it’s helpful for you as you plan out your Swallowtail Butterfly Garden. Note that there is more information below for easier access, organized by Swallowtail species.

Below that are my citations for this graphic and all the host plant lists.

Host Plants for Swallowtail Caterpillars

Pale Swallowtail

• alder
• cascara
• buckthorn
• rose family
• crab apple
• apple
• cherry
• currants
• gooseberry
• birch

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

• wild cherry
• basswood
• birch
• hickory
• serviceberry
• apple
• maple
• ash
• cottonwood
• American mountain ash
• willow
• magnolia family
• rose family
• hop tree

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

• wild cherry
• birch
• ash
• poplar
• willow
• aspen

Western Tiger Swallowtail

• apple
• cherry
• plum
• blackberry
• birch
• lilac
• oak
• maple
• cottonwood
• willow
• aspen
• poplar
• red alder

Black Swallowtail

• Rattlesnake Master
• golden alexanders
• yellow pimpernell
• parsley
• dill
• fennel
• queen Anne’s lace
• celery
• caraway
• chervil
• sweet cicily
• angelica
• rue

Two-Tailed Swallowtail

• western choke cherry
• bittercherry
• arizona rosewood
• arizona sycamore
• hoptree
• willow
• poplar
• ash

Anise Swallowtail

• parsley
• dill
• fennel
• queen Anne’s lace
• celery
• caraway
• chervil
• biscuitroot
• sweet cicily
• angelica

Giant Swallowtail

• rue
• Hercules club
• citrus
• prickly ash
• wafer ash
• hop tree

Spicebush Swallowtail

• spicebush
• camphor
• sassafras
• sweet bay magnolia
• tulip tree

Zebra Swallowtail

• pawpaw*

Oregon Swallowtail

• tarragon sagebrush (Artemisia dracunulus)

Old World Swallowtail

• parsley
• dill
• fennel
• queen Anne’s lace
• celery
• caraway
• chervil
• biscuitroot
• sweet cicily
• angelica
• rue

Palamedes Swallowtail

• Red Bay
• Swamp Bay
• camphor Tree
• white sassafras

Pipevine Swallowtail

• Pipevine

Indra Swallowtail

• Lomatium
• Fernleaf Biscuitroot
• Turpentine Broom
• Tauschia
• Umbrellawort

Polydamas Swallowtail

• Pipevine
• other Aristolochia species

Asian Swallowtail

• citrus plants

Thoas Swallowtail (King Swallowtail)

• citrus family
• prickly ash
• hop tree
• piperaceae family

Ornythion Swallowtail (aka Citrus Swallowtail)

• Citrus Family

Ruby-Spotted Swallowtail

• Citrus Family
• Casimiroa
• Zanthoxylum

Three Tailed Swallowtail

• Laurel Family

General Nectar Plants

Nectar plants feed adult butterflies. Be sure to have nectar plants available for the butterflies to eat!

• apple blossom
• wild cherry flowers
• lilac flowers
• milkweed
• blueberry
• red bud
• Joe Pye Weed
• mock orange
• verbena
• thistle
• compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)
• echinacea
• Mexican Sunflower
• Bee Balm/Monarda
• balsamroot
• phlox
• purple sage
• zinnias
• cosmos
• rhododendron
• blackberry
• azalea
• columbine
• fireweed
• penstemon
• flox
• lupine
• yarrow
• hyssop
• campanula
• coreopsis
• dianthus
• sunflower
• alfalfa
• catnip
• rudbeckia
• linden

sources: Cornell, USDA, Xerces, Xerces 2, Xerces 3, Pollinator Partnership, Dropseed Native Landscapes Nursery, A&M University, NWF, Raritan Headwaters, Piedmont Environmental Council, Klamath-Siskiyou Seeds, Illinois Extension, UF IFL, NCParks.gov, butterflies of massachusetts, Butterfly Atlas Alabama, Washington Butterfly Association, Breeding Butterflies, CalScape, UF IFL 2, Hawaii Nature Journal, iNaturalist, Butterflies and Moths of North America,  Butterflies and Moths of North America 2, Learn About Butterflies, funet, MT FG2MT FG3

Design Your Swallowtail Garden

Plan the Layout

First, consider the movement of the sun across your space and the presence of natural windbreaks. Design your layout with these elements in mind to provide optimal conditions for your plants - and thus, the butterflies.

Companion Planting for Swallowtails

Pair nectar and host plants with companions that offer additional benefits. Think about plants for other beneficial insects, and incorporating elements of shade to keep butterflies cool during the heat of the day. This approach to planting not only supports Swallowtails but also contributes to a balanced garden ecosystem.

Example Swallowtail Garden in Kansas:

For host plants, grow fennel, dill, parsley, rue, blackberries, wild roses, citrus, spicebush, and peppers. Plant a pawpaw tree for Zebra Swallowtails. Then grow these nectar plants for adult butterflies: apple, echinacea, bee balm, zinnias, yarrow, hyssop, sunflower, and catnip.

Example Swallowtail Garden in Massachusetts:

Host plants may include celery, fennel, rue, and spicebush. If you can add trees to your landscape, choose willow, cherry, and apple. The last two double as nectar sources. Other nectar sources for your native swallowtail butterflies include blueberry, verbena, artichoke, echinacea, phlox, cosmos, lupine, and rudbeckia.

Example Swallowtail Garden in New Mexico:

Plant parsley, dill, lomatium, biscuit root, and pipevine for host plants. If you can add some trees, select citrus, willow, and sassafrass. Grow native milkweeds, thistles, echinacea, Mexican sunflower, purple sage, penstemon, and rudbeckia for swallowtail nectar sources.

Example Swallowtail Garden in Washington State:

Select dill, fennel, celery, lomatium, biscuitroot, currants, and sweet cicily for your host plants. Grow apple, plum, and willow trees if you have the space. Add in blackberries, echinacea, sunflowers, fireweed, hyssop, and catnip for your nectar sources.

Example Swallowtail Garden for California:

Host plants can include caraway, dill, parsley, rue, lomatium,currants, wild roses, pipevine, with native cherry trees if you have the space. Grow blueberries, bee balm, Mexican sunflower, purple sage, zinnias, and coreopsis for butterfly food sources.

Organic Practices

It’s essential to avoid synthetic pesticides, which can harm butterflies and other beneficial insects. Focus on soil health through organic amendments and mulch, which in turn supports robust plant growth.

Other Swallowtail Butterfly Habitat Tips +Ideas

“Leave the Leaves”

When swallowtails and other butterflies pupate, they look like dead leaves and sometimes are found on the ground. Xerces Society recommends letting the leaves be on the ground to help uplift Swallowtail populations. As an added bonus, this will also help other overwintering bugs find a home, too.

Plant Extras

If you are planting a vegetable garden that includes one of the larval food sources, plant a couple of extra plants for the caterpillars so that they don’t totally munch your herb supply.

Nurturing a whole ecosystem

As The Swallowtail Project mentions, “to plant for swallowtails is to plant for an entire ecosystem.” When your yard is filled with larval host plants and nectar sources, you inevitably support other wildlife.

Always have food sources available throughout the growing season

Plan for a succession of blooms throughout the growing season so that the butterflies always have a food source.

Shelter and Protection

Swallowtails need safe places to roost and hide from predators. Dense shrubs and trees can offer necessary shelter. Plant their host and food plants in clusters to provide additional protection.

Water and Puddling Areas

Butterflies often seek out moist areas to drink and absorb minerals.

Create shallow puddles or sand baths in sunny spots. You may find a group of males have congregated there for hydration!

Be Organic

It’s important to not use pesticides, especially broad spectrum targeting kinds, in your garden.

University of Florida notes that these broad spectrum pesticides include:

• carbaryl
• malathion
• neonicotinoids

They also give a fair bit of advice: “No reason to lure butterflies and native pollinators into the landscape only to kill them. Yikes!” - UF IFAS

Maintenance and Ethical Considerations

Seasonal Care and Overwintering

As the seasons change, adapt your garden practices to prepare for overwintering butterflies or to refresh the habitat in spring. This mindfulness ensures year-round support for the Swallowtail population.

Ethical Wildlife Gardening

Prioritize native plant species and consider the broader impact of your garden on local wildlife. Practice ethical gardening - create a habitat that respects natural processes and the well-being of all creatures.

The Importance of Swallowtails to Ecosystems and Gardens

As pollinators, Swallowtail Butterflies contribute to the propagation of many plant species.

They are important in permaculture gardens and regenerative landscapes because they aid in plant biodiversity.

As mentioned on Cornell University’s Swallowtail Butterfly profile, butterflies travel long distances compared to bees.

This means that they can cross-pollinate in a way that offers more genetic variation. This helps plant species to build resilience as opposed to suffering from inbreeding stress.

Conclusion

You can create a habitat for Swallowtail Butterflies with careful selection of plants, thoughtful garden design, and a commitment to ecological principles. Transform your garden into a sanctuary that not only supports these magnificent insects but also contributes to the health of your local environment.

I love sitting by my blackberry bushes, which sit below wild roses, crab apple, Oso plum, and wild cherry in the summertime. This is a hot spot for the Western Swallowtail Butterflies that I feel privileged to be able to host in my yard. I hope that you are able to have the same enjoyment in your own garden with these magical creatures.

Want to learn more about the different Swallowtail Butterfly Species? Check out my Visual Guide to Common Swallowtail Butterfly Species found in the United States

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