I've been planting milkweeds all over and the first time I grow a single dill plant I get swallowtails visiting. Excited to see what's next!



by PhilosophyBoring3232

20 Comments

  1. My dill had a couple baby caterpillars on it but i think either wasps or birds got to them. šŸ™ I know, supporting the food chain etc but it was still disappointing.

  2. Siberian_Hamsterx

    Plants in the carrot family like bronze fennel, golden Alexander, Queen Anne’s lace too!

  3. Belluhcourtbelle

    Love! Just planted two containers of dill for these babies!

  4. Suspicious_Toe4172

    I’ve had good success with black swallowtail caterpillars showing up on my native Golden Alexander.

  5. havalinaaa

    I’ve planted a ridiculous number of native host plants and yet they only have eyes for dill.

  6. Frequent_Secretary25

    We’ve always planted dill specifically for swallowtails. If they leave anything then it’s ours

  7. MuttsandHuskies

    Is it too late to plant dill in central Texas for swallowtails?

  8. Yes—they are very fond of parsley as well. We have a local garden that has a butterfly enclosure—lots and lots of parsley and other favorites are planted to help the critters find their fave food or egg laying spot.

  9. northshorehermit

    I get them on my bronze fennel as well. Enjoy them while you can. They won’t be there long. 😭 🐦

  10. If you get too close they have stinky pom-poms that pop out! My parents had a dill plant get consumed by 6 of those. No dill that year, but they got cool butterflies.

  11. I wish. We live in a suburban hellhole where we’re the only property for square miles that doesn’t constantly spray. I’ve never seen a single swallowtail or monarch on any of my plants šŸ™ Sad times.

  12. gottagrablunch

    I have a couple of perennial fennel that I let stay just for them. I also have butterfly weed and milkweed and have seen a couple of monarchs but haven’t spotted any caterpillars. I do see wasps all around so suspect they may be the reason.

    PSA – If you do have fennel just don’t let it go to seed as it can be invasive.

  13. My wife conducted an experiment a couple of years ago. Planted twelve pots, 4 each with parsley, cilantro, and dill.

    Parsley and cilantro each had a few swallowtail caterpillars, but the dill was just covered! They ate it down to the stems and then waddled off all fat and sassy to pupate.

    Next year all 12 pots were dill and oh my god, swallowtails came from miles around to lay eggs on it.

  14. Wolfgang_Pup

    One year by chance we had a TON on just one plant so the next year I planted a whole garden of dill and … Nothing. šŸ¤žšŸ»for this year.

  15. Samwise_the_Tall

    My Dill = Ladybug heaven! (A month ago before I pulled it). I think I counted 15 larvae one day!!

    I would’ve loved to see Swallowtails, which is why I grew it, but I didn’t get any this year. I’ll try and grow some spring into summer next year, I primarily grew mine winter into spring.

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