How to attract the elegant zebra swallowtail butterfly to your yard by growing nectar plants. Also discover the host plant for the caterpillars. And if you didn’t know it already it is our lovable Pawpaw tree. Many members along with one other member have brought this to the front stage. Interested join at festival and workshops.

This year’s NAGPA field day and Grafting workshop provided many giveaways. We also offered the information you need to bring these beautiful butterflies into your landscape. You will see what takes to incorporate these with very little trouble into backyard paradise.

The zebra swallowtail butterfly is boldly zebra striped in black and white with red accents. Wings have bold black stripes on a white or teal-white background. Hindwings feature a red stripe on the underside and a lengthy tail. A red spot at the base of the wings attracts predators. This spot directs their aim away from the tiny body, increasing the butterfly’s chances of survival.

Adults that emerge in summer tend to have even longer tails than springtime broods. Their wingspan is 2 1/2 to 4 inches. You can store the ones in the later part of the summer and have them ready for your spring garden.

Host Plants

As caterpillars, they feed on the leaves of the small pawpaw tree or others in its genus. The pawpaw tree is common in shady woods, especially in the south.

Backyard Nectar Plants

These butterflies enjoy nectar from blueberry, blackberry, lilac, red bud trees and milkweed. Check out more summer nectar flowers that attract butterflies.

dill (Anethum graveolens),
fennel (Foeniculum vulgare),
parsley (Petroselinum crispum),
Bishops Flower Seed (Daucus carota),
rue (Ruta graveolens)

Nectar Favorites:

milkweed (Asclepias spp.), (milkweed seeds)
butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) (butterfly weed seeds)
butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii),
Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium spp.) (found in unique perennials)
phlox (Phlox spp.),
ironweed (Vernonia spp.)