Every butterfly gardener delights when showy swallowtails make an appearance. These butterflies are some of the largest in the garden, and their colorful wings and soaring flight patterns make them a treat to watch. After working for several years in a butterfly garden in Florida, I’ve learned which flowers swallowtails seem to gravitate toward the most and now I’m bringing those insider tips to you. (Psst! They work for other butterflies, too.)
Monarda didyma, zones 4 to 9
Often grown for the minty citrus scent of the leaves, bee balm has striking tubular flowers that swallowtails can’t resist. Native to the eastern U.S. and Canada, it doesn’t often tolerate the extreme humidity of southern summers, but it thrives everywhere else.
Why we love it: Swallowtails love it, but deer typically stay away, which is always a bonus!
Vernonia sp., zones 5 to 9
Many native wildflowers are attractive to butterflies, and ironweed is no exception. A late summer bloomer, ironweed sends flower stalks up to 7 feet with fuzzy purple flower clusters at the branched ends. For best flowering, be sure to provide moist soil.
Why we love it: Ironweed is a long bloomer. It lasts well into fall, providing
nectar for the last butterflies of the season.
Petroselinum crispum
Parsley isn’t just to garnish your dinner plate! This annual is a favorite host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars. They’ll also eat fennel, dill, Queen Anne’s lace and other members of the carrot family, but parsley is easy to grow in just about every garden. In the Deep South, provide some shade in the hot summer months.
Why we love it: All parsley, especially the curly varieties, look beautiful as a border in your flower bed or spilling out of a hanging planter.
Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 9
This native wildflower finds its way into every butterfly garden sooner or later. Coneflower is easy to grow and provides masses of tall purple blooms. For best growth, you should divide the clumps every few years. After coneflowers finish blooming, leave seed heads in place for songbirds to enjoy.
Why we love it: The central cone that gives the flower its name makes it easy to see swallowtails (and photograph them) when they land for a meal.
Asclepias tuberosa, zones 3 to 9
Butterfly weed is part of the milkweed family, known host plants for monarchs. But the flowers it produces are also attractive to many other kinds of butterflies, including the black swallowtail. This resilient plant is a must-have addition to any garden. It tolerates dry soil and prefers plenty of sunshine.
Why we love it: Butterfly weed doesn’t produce as much milk sap as other milkweeds, making it easier to tend for gardeners with sensitive skin.
Asimina triloba, zones 5 to 9
While this shrub can be tricky to grow, it’s the host plant for the zebra swallowtail and the best way to draw this exceptionally beautiful butterfly to your yard. The deep root systems make transplanting a bit difficult, so consider starting from seed instead.
Why we love it: In addition to providing food for zebra swallowtail caterpillars, pawpaw produces edible fruit for humans as well.
Eupatorium purpureum, zones 4 to 9
This tall, native perennial prefers moist soil where it can stretch up to 9 feet high. The clusters of pink-purple blooms smell faintly of vanilla. Joe Pye weed blooms well into fall, bringing the season’s last butterflies to your yard.
Why we love it: Tall blooms give you a chance to observe and photograph visiting butterflies from a different perspective.
Rutaceae, zones 4 to 11
Giant swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on trees in the citrus family, including lemon, lime and orange. This family also includes prickly ash (Aralia spinosa) and hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata), along with common rue (Ruta graevolens). Be careful, though. Almost all of these trees have spiny branches!
Why we love it: Sweetly scented spring blooms and delicious fruit—need we say more?
Pentas lanceolata
The trumpet-shaped blooms that give pentas its common name, starflower, are a draw for many butterflies. Keep this annual well watered, but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings, and deadhead as needed for blooms all summer long.
Why we love it: Tiger swallowtails seem especially drawn to the tall red varieties like Butterfly Red. They might even visit the same plants at the same time every day.
Salvia longispicata x farinacea, zones 7 to 10
Most salvia species are excellent for butterflies, but the tall blue flower spikes of the cultivar, Mystic Spires, are especially suited to large butterflies like swallowtails. Plant in well-drained soil and cut back spent flowers to encourage new growth. If you don’t live in a warm region, grow this salvia as an annual instead.
Why we love it: This compact salvia hybrid stands up to heat and humidity all summer long.
Provide a Puddle
Butterflies often drink from mud puddles for water and minerals. Tiger swallowtails will especially appreciate a tiny area in your yard composed of damp soil with small rocks for landing.Add Rock
A few large flat rocks in a sunny area will invite butterflies to rest and give you great photo opportunities.Offer Shelter
Butterflies need a safe place to rest at night, like a brush pile or tall grasses.- More From Birds & Blooms
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9 Butterfly Flowers to Grow From Seed
8 Super Fragrant Flowers That Pollinators Love
Top 10 Butterfly Host Plants
Long-Blooming Flowers for Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds
Cherie says
We have swallowtails … enjoying our Rhubarb for a nursery! We have a fat ‘little’ baby growing nicely.
Linda Andrews says
Pentas for tiger swallowtails, my favorite butterfly since I was a kid! Good to know! :^)
pgdiaz says
you didn’t even mention ZIZIA the native host plant for black swallowtails, who can also use any carrot family such as the parsley but also fennel dill cilantro. tulip tree (tulipifera liriodendron) host for tiger swallowtails.
Jana Vieth says
Hi Jill,
Great article for attracting swallowtail butterflies. I have noticed that in the past couple of years, sighting of butterflies has decreased in my flower garden. I did not know about Ironweed, Parsley, Pawpaw and Citrus but I do have most of the other plants in my garden. Thanks for your great tips.
Denise says
I have butterfly weed scattered throughout my flower garden and have for many years. I have yet to see 1 butterfly land on any of these plants.
AJ says
When I was a child I collected a caterpillar from dads parsley and fed him fresh parsley religiously. Was heartbroken when I thought he died inspire of my care. Imagine how excited I was when my dried out dead caterpillar emerged a beautiful black swallowtail one day. I watched him closely till his wings were dry and he flew off. I was told wasps otherwise could attack them before they could fly, so I watched each butterfly to protect from that. Fifty years later many swallowtails still around so I guess they approve of my habitat I have for them and all wildlife!
Kathlyne says
Lucky you! They must love you.
Jeanne Davis says
Surprised there is no mention of zinnias. I plant them from seed every year particularly to attract the swallowtails and I have gotten some beautiful photos just from my point and shoot, as they do hang around long enough to fully open up. I too have never seen a butterfly on my butterfly weed, although they do like the butterfly bush. Next year I am definitely planting parsley as my friend says they lay eggs on hers.
Dianna says
I planted fennel on the edge of my garden as a host plant for Swallowtails. Not only did it attract a black Swallowtail, but one laid eggs on the plant. I found a caterpillar and raised it until it emerged as a beautiful butterfly! What a great experience! And the fennel adds an interesting scent of licorice to the garden! I even photographed the whole life cycle! Amazing!
Joan Van Velzer says
Really enjoy the comments, Have learned many things I did not know… Many thanks to all of you…Also Thank you for all you do for our beautiful Butterflies and Hummingbirds.
Nancy says
Looks as if I need to plant more parsley and fennel in my garden. One flowering plant we find attracts butterflies (all of them, including Swallowtails) is Lantana. Not only do butterflies love Lantana, but Hummingbirds do, too. Our butterfly bush is, always, covered with multi-varieties of butterflies. The lady who mentioned Zinnias is so right ! Swallowtails love our various groups of them. Happy Butterflying, All !!!
Shaun booth says
The picture you have for Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) is actually a picture of a papaya(Carica papaya). Just so you are aware.
Sandra White says
Here in NE Georgia we have lots of Mimosa trees in our back yard….and along highways and all over these mountains….the yellow and the black swallowtails entertained us since they started blooming over 2 months ago and are still blooming tho not many any more. We have had at least 20 at a time all over the blooms all summer….what a delight….I even saw 2 black ones mating and flying together for maybe 10 minutes…..WOW! They are so beautiful!!!!