Would you like to attract black swallowtails (Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll) to your garden? Adding larval host plants like fennel, parsley, rue and dill are a great way to entice female swallowtails to lay their eggs.  These herbs will also be useful to you in a variety of recipes, too.

A great resource to learn more about the majestic swallowtails is Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s “Field Guide to Common Texas Insects:”

https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/lepidoptera/black-swallowtail/

Grow fennel (and/or parsley, dill and rue) for you AND for the swallowtails! You will be glad you did!

Photos courtesy of DCMGs Nicole Jones and Cynthia Asensio