I think those are about it for the host plants. I have 4 tulip poplars and 2 willows (all in pots) and so far, no eggs. I have seen tigers in my yard, nectaring, but no takers on laying any eggs...maybe next year.

Mechelle

I've been wanting some lilac anyway, I did pot a cutting this summer, hopefully it will grow. I think I'll do some shopping for lilac and maybe cherry. My hubby won't be happy if I plant any more trees! :0

Thanks for all your help Mechelle!

Tammy

You are most welcome! All of my host plant trees are in pots, my yard is not big enough to handle all those trees and especially as big as some of them will get! Just another idea for you. The pots will keep the trees from getting to the normal mature height, which will make it easier to find the eggs.

Mechelle

I get most of my Tiger ST from my Tulip tree, but
also try Sweet Bay Magnolia - It's more of a bush form
if you train it and keep it to size. I've got 7 eggs on it right now.

Thanks Mechelle for the great idea of planting trees in pots. I love the Tiger Swallowtail and have seen them in my yard this summer. So I will now plant a Tulip Poplar in a pot. I am so excited. My yard is only 3,000 sq. feet and I have no room for these large trees that would give too much shade anyway when they reach maturity.

I am on line still searching for more Passion Flower to feed 21 Gf. I lost a few yesterday--suddenly they were not in the container--I guess the larger ones had them for lunch!!

I recently bought a tulip poplar and a black cherry tree. Both about 4 feet tall and I put them in large pots until I can decide where I want to plant them. I would really love to keep these trees in pots as I do not want huge trees. (we just spent $3000 taking down 6 pine trees). Do you just keep them pruned to the height that you like? Does keeping them in pots make them root bound and not grow?

Thanks for the info!
Kathy

I've never tried keeping tulip poplars or black cherries in pots indefinitely, so I don't know the answer, Kathy. I wouldn't think it'd take long for them to get pot bound, so you'd need to keep potting them up to bigger containers - you couldn't keep this up forever, so eventually the trees would probably die. I doubt that pruning the tops will keep the roots from growing normally. Maybe you could learn root pruning and/or bonsai?
I find most of my tigers on wild black cherry/prunus serotina and tulip poplar/liriodendron tulipifera, but I find quite a few on hop tree/ptelea trifoliata, which is the favorite host plant for giant swallowtails. My pteleas don't get very big, just to small tree or bush size.
Sherry

Great idea Mechelle, I will try keeping them in pots! I did buy a small magnolia that is potted and I thought that I would need to plant it this fall but i think I'll try keeping it potted and I think I'll shop for a tulip poplar next. I just love this forum! :)
Tammy

What do you mean when you say Cherry? I'm in a huge need of details! Do you mean... er... Like the fruit? Details people, DETAILS!!!