Swallowtail Caterpillar Host Plants of Europe

This lists butterfly host plants for the Swallowtail caterpillar of Europe.

More host plants for the Swallowtail:

The European list is short as there are no more than fifteen Swallowtail Butterflies throughout Europe and North Africa.

I keep it easy providing common plant names and/or family and genus. This way the gardener will be able to recognize one name.

Also a note about climbers... they climb.. a lot! Depending on the species they can become invasive. You can successfully keep them on the outskirts of the yard where they will climb the trees.

If you want climbers closer to your house be particular. In time the structure holding the climbers can break down, weather and possibly deteriorate the wood or brick supporting it.

Also see important information about Dutchmans Pipe on the North American Swallowtail caterpillar host plant page.

To View Host Plants for Butterflies for All butterfly families click here

Swallowtail Caterpillar Butterflies and host plants suited to each:

1) Clouded Apollo

Corydalis (Papaveraceae) family

2) Corsican Swallowtail

Giant Fennel (Ferula) family especially Ferula Communis
Peucedanum Paniculatum Loisel
Ruta (Rutaceae) family especially CorsicaThese above three Host Plants are considered Toxic to grazing mammals.

3) Desert Swallowtail

Deverra Chloranthus
Deverra Scopularia
Giant Fennel (Ferula) family especially Ferula Communis
Pycnocyla Glauca Lindl (Umbelliferae)
Seseli Varium

4) Eastern Festoon [Zerynthia (Aristolochia) Cerisyi]

Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia) family especially Altissima, Bodamae, Clematitis, Rotunda

5) Eastern Festoon [Zerynthia (Allancastria) Cretica]

Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia)

6) False Apollo

Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia)

7) Papilio Machaon Swallowtail

Albus (Dictamnus) family
Bishop's Weed (Aegopodium) family. Also known as Podagraria Veriegatum.
Caraway (Carum) family especially Carvi
Carrot (Peucedanum) family
Cowbane (Cicuta virosa)
Cow-Parsnip (Heracleum) family especially Heracleum Sphondylium
Daucus family
Dill (Anethum) family especially Graveolens
Foeniculum family especially Vulgare
Giant Fennel (Ferula) family
Goutweed (Aegopodium) family. Also known as Podagraria Veriegatum.
Haplophyllum (Rutaceae)
Laserpitium Latifolium
Lovage (Levisticum Officinale)
Northern Water Hemlock (Cicuta Virosa)
Pastinaca family especially Pastinaca Sativa
Ruta (Rutaceae)
Saxifraga (Saxifrage) family especially Pimpinella
Trinia Glauca (Honewort)
"Woodland Angelica (Archangelica) family especially Silvestris/Sylvestris

8) Apollo Swallowtail (Parnassius Apollo)

Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum)
Houseleek (Sempervivum)
Sedum (Stonecrop) family especially Album, Hylotelephium Caucasicum, Rhodiola Rosea, Rosea, Rupestre, TelephiumBecause this butterfly flies primarily in the mountains, it is named after the mountain of the Greek gods - Parnassus.

9) Scarce Swallowtail

Apple/Crabapple (Malus) family
Crataegus - Hawthorns
Lavendar
Pear (Pyrus) family
Prunus (Amygdalus) family including Almond, Cherry, Cherry Laurel, Nectarine, Peach, Plum
Sorbus - Rowans and Whitebeams This butterfly very common in Europe but can also be found in China and Asia.

10) Small Apollo

Sedum (Stonecrop) family especially Album, Debile, Lanceolatum, Obtusatum, Rhodiola Rosea, Stenopetalum, Wrightii
Saxifraga (Saxifage) family especially Aizioides, Calycina, Nivalis, Sempervivum Montanum, Tectorum

11) Southern Festoon

Duthcman's Pipe (Aristolochia) family especially Birthwort, Clematitis, Pallida, Pistolochia, Rotunda

12) Southern Swallowtial

Caraway (Carum) family especially Carvi
Giant Fennel (Ferula) family especially Ferula Communis, Karategina, Ugamica
Falcaria Vulgaris
Opopanax Chironium
Opopanax Hispidus
Ptychotis Heterophylla
Saxifraga (Saxifrage) family especially Pimpinella
Seseli Libanotis
Seseli Montanum
Trinia Vulgaris
Torilis Heterophylla

13) Spanish Festoon

Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia) family especially Baetica, Fontanesi, Longa, Pistolochia, Rotunda

14) Iphiclides Feisthamelii

Apple/Crabapple (Malus)
Crataegus - Hawthorns
Pear (Pyrus)
Prunus (Amygdalus) family including Almond, Cherry, Cherry Laurel, Nectarine, Peach, Plum
Sorbus - Rowans, Whitebeams

Click below for more butterfly host plants for the Swallowtail caterpillar

To View Host Plants for Butterflies for All butterfly families click here

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