It's good to see that you are concentrating on larval plants. Dill and Fennel are very good plants for the Eastern Black Swallowtail. One of the best plants for Giant Swallowtails is the wild lime tree (Zanthoxylum fagara.) It does well in zone 10.

If you wish to attract Pipevine Swallowtails I recommend the Wooly Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa.) For Spicebush Swallowtails I would look around for swamp bay trees (Persea palustris).

I don't know what to recommend to you for Tiger Swallowtails. In Central Florida they use wild Black Cherry trees and Sweetbay Magnolias, but these are rather large trees.

@sambac Hi! I bought a Wild Lime Tree (they love them but super thorny) and Rue plants to attract Swallowtails. Within months I had caterpillars on the Wild Lime Tree but anoles were eating them so I raised them indoors. I currently have 4 chrysalis', fingers crossed. Passion vines are great hosts plants for other butterflies, especially Gulf Fritillaries. I recently planted a Dutchmans Pipe Gigantea for Swallowtails but learned that species kills the caterpillars so I ordered a different type in case Swallowtail caterpillars appear I can move them. I keep most of my plants in pots so its easier to keep them watered. (and Passion Vines with Red flowers are bad also). So much to learn : )

Thank you Tom and Karen for your replies. Will look for a wild lime tree and rue tomorrow

Will look to see what I have is a wooly pipevine.

are these Swallowtail cats? . I found these on the pipevine, should I move these to the dill?

Cool! Honestly, when I see or think there are predators, I bring the caterpillars inside right away. When I doubt myself, the caterpillars disappear the next day. Sure looks like Pipevine Swallowtails! Exciting!

Shall I bring it in with some dill ?

First, you are so kind to help butterflies <3 As long as we don't give up, they won't : )

You can try dill but I suggest Pipevine cuttings since they started on it (unless you have a small Pipevine plant you can bring in). My Giant Swallowtails were on my Wild Lime Tree but since its large, I brought in Rue plants (their other host plant). The adult caterpillars wouldn't switch over to the Rue but the babies did.

I sure wish someone told me how different Giant Swallowtail caterpillars are from Monarchs! They barely ate or moved compared to Monarchs so I was worried all the time.

yes, intuitively the pipevine tender leaves should do. Have in a smaller container inside the butterfly netted house I use for monarchs. the catts are not moving wonder if they are dead. lets see. ty for your help.

Mine were Giant Swallowtails so I'm not sure other Swallowtails act the same but mine always seemed "dead". Like I said, I was a wreck. I would stare and stare. Sometimes I would have to spritz them to see if they were still alive.

At one point, I was positive this one was dead but nope, he was just resting for hours and hours. They were pretty much the complete opposite of Monarchs.

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Good to know!! For sure I thought this one dead , no movement for several hrs

Truth be told, I didn't touch these. First, they have an osmeterium, resembling the forked tongue of a snake, that shoot out along with a bad odor when they are upset and they didn't seem very cute or friendly. Here's what it looks like: https://www.google.com/search?q=pipevine%2Bswallowtail%2Bcaterpillars%2Bosmeterium&biw=1532&bih=747&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDoqy9uMzPAhUC2R4KHUNUCbwQ_AUICCgB

Ah those brats !!

I was planning to check mounts botanical Monday. Too bad they were closed today due to the hurricane.

Karen, in the link above only the black caterpillars are Pipevines. They are not poisonous and their little protuberances do not sting. They are easily moved from plant to plant or to different leaves.

Thanks for the info, Tom! Learning more everyday : ) Can't tell if Tomentosa grows in Zone 10B, conflicting information online. I checked Mail Order Natives and they don't have any plus they show it grows in Zones 5-9 BUT the map it has, shows it in Zone 10B. Also, do you know if Aristolochia Elegans is safe for Pipevine Swallowtails?

I don't think it is, Karen. Check this site out. I have the A. Tomentosa, which is great. I also have the A. Fimbriata, which is good, but does not grow all that well or fast, but both the Polydamas and the Pipevines like them--as they do the Tomentosa.

Thanks again Tom!

Update: This must be the polydamas, they have been kept captive and fed on the pipevine leaves that I have, and seem active and have grown to the point, the hooligans escaped out of my prior contraption with large holed netted top. Now the plastic container is covered with thin stockings and some holes in the bottom in the event it gets rained on!

Thanks Karen and Tom, found some wild lime and rue from a local nursery. Thx for info on tomentosa- almost ordered it online, but will wait till I get to Mounts one of these days, when work and family does not get in the way lol..