Butterflies in Mind -- Zinnia
Susan C. Dunlap
A collection of 50 images as if seen from a butterfly’s point of view. Includes the names of native Zinnia species and the most complete list of US butterflies that will feed on Zinnia blossoms.
Butterflies in Mind -- Asclepias
Susan C. Dunlap
“Milkweed is the single most important plant for Monarch butterflies. This lavishly illustrated book contains details about the structure and cultivation of native Milkweeds, information about the 139 nectar-feeding butterflies they...
Butterflies in Mind -- Monarch
Susan C. Dunlap
This abundantly illustrated volume enables you to select from a complete list of well described perennial nectar plants that are known to attract & feed Monarch butterflies. Over 40 genera are described that are suitable to be grown...
Butterflies in Mind -- Perennials
Susan C. Dunlap
Butterflies in Mind - Perennials. This book is a definitive guide to perennial nectar plants preferred by US butterflies. It empowers you to feed, attract, support (and help identify) nectar-feeding butterflies that reside in the US....

Papilio rutulus

Common name: Western Tiger Swallowtail

Feeds on these plants:

Abelia x grandiflora

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Confetti’

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Sherwoodii’

Abelia x grandiflora ‘Sunrise’

Aesculus californica

Agapanthus africanus

Agapanthus campanulatus

Agapanthus hybrid
(sold as Van's White)

Agapanthus inapertus

Agapanthus praecox

Agapanthus ‘Queen Anne’

Agapanthus ‘Streamline’

Asclepias asperula

Asclepias curassavica
(sold as Silky Deep Red)

Asclepias curassavica
(sold as Silky Gold)

Asclepias fascicularis

Asclepias hallii

Asclepias incarnata

Asclepias perennis

Asclepias purpurascens

Asclepias quadrifolia

Asclepias speciosa

Asclepias subulata

Asclepias syriaca

Asclepias tuberosa

Asclepias viridiflora

Bougainvilla species

Buddleja alternifolia

Buddleja colvilei

Buddleja crispa

Buddleja davidii

Buddleja davidii ‘Harlequin’

Buddleja davidii ‘Pink Delight’

Buddleja davidii
(sold as dwarf)

Buddleja lindleyana

Buddleja marrubifolia

Buddleja saligna

Buddleja salviifolia

Buddleja weyeriana 'honeycomb'

Buddleja x pikei

Buddleja x weyeriana

Carduus nutans

Carphephorus bellidifolius

Carphephorus corymbosus

Carphephorus odoratissimus

Centranthus ruber

Cirsium altissimum

Cirsium arvense

Cirsium hilli

Cirsium muticum

Cirsium nuttalii

Cirsium occidentale

Cirsium species

Cirsium vulgare

Corethrogyne filagini

Corethrogyne filaginifolia

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Amsterdam Maxi)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Amsterdam Forcing)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Autumn King)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Avenger)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Baby Spike)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Bolero)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Chantenay Red Cored)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Chantenay Royal)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Danvers 126)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Danvers Half-Long)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Deep Purple Carrot)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Early Nantes)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Flyaway)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Gold Pak)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Imperator 58)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Ingot)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Legend)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Little Finger)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Long Imperator)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Maestro)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Minicor)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Nantes Coreless)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Nantes Fancy)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Nantes Scarlet)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Nantes)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Orlando Gold)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Parmex)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Purple Dragon)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Purple Haze)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Short 'n Sweet)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as St Valery)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Sweetness)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Tendersweet)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Thumbelina)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as Touchon)

Daucus carota ssp. sativus
(sold as orbit)

Daucus carota

Dianthus arenarius

Dianthus armeria

Dianthus barbatus

Dianthus carthusianorum

Dianthus caryophyllus
(sold as Cinnamon Red Hots)

Dianthus chinensis

Dianthus deltoides

Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Dianthus hybrid
(sold as Spangled Star)

Dianthus knappii

Dianthus plumarius

Dianthus ‘Pixie Star’

Dianthus ‘Tiny Rubies’

Dianthus
(sold as Raspberrry Parfait)

Dianthus
(sold as Telstar Crimson)

Dianthus
(sold as Telstar Purple)

Dianthus
(sold as x Raspberry Swirl)

Dichelostemma congestum

Dipsacus fullonum

Dipsacus imermis

Dipsacus species

Dipsacus sylvestris

Duranta erecta ‘Sapphire’

Duranta erecta
(sold as Variegata)

Duranta stenostachya

Echium candicans

Echium hybrid
(sold as Mr Happy)

Echium maculatum

Echium pininana

Echium plantagineum

Echium vulgare

Echium wildpretii

Eriodictyon californicum

Eupatorium fistulosum

Hibiscus moscheutos
(sold as Aquarian)

Hibiscus moscheutos
(sold as Carafe series)

Hibiscus moscheutos
(sold as Grenache)

Hibiscus moscheutos
(sold as Splash Series)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Hawaiian Sunset’

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
(sold as Amour)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
(sold as Hula Girl)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
(sold as Mongon Patio Tree)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
(sold as Mongon)

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
(sold as Painted Lady)

Hibiscus syriacus

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Helene’

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Notwoodone’

Hibiscus syriacus
(sold as Collie Mullens)

Hibiscus trionum

Hibiscus
(sold as Fireball)

Ipomopsis aggregata

Iris afghanica

Iris bracteata

Iris chrysographes

Iris confusa

Iris domestica

Iris douglasiana

Iris douglasiana ‘Californian Hybrids’

Iris ensata ‘Variegata’

Iris foetidissima

Iris graminea

Iris innominata

Iris japonica ‘Variegata’

Iris laevigata

Iris longipetala

Iris pallida

Iris pallida ‘Aureo Variegata’

Iris pumila

Iris purdyi

Iris sibirica

Iris tenax

Iris versicolor

Iris x germanica

Lantana camara
(sold as Carlos)

Lantana camara
(sold as Landmark Peach Sunrise)

Lantana camara
(sold as Landmark Pink Dawn)

Lantana hirta

Lantana hybrid
(sold as New Gold)

Lantana involucrata

Lantana montevidensis

Lantana montevidensis
(sold as Confetti)

Lantana montevidensis
(sold as Lavender Trailing)

Lantana montevidensis
(sold as New Gold)

Lantana montevidensis
(sold as orange)

Lantana montevidensis
(sold as white)

Lantana montevidensis
(sold as yellow)

Lantana ‘Silver Mound’

Lavatera maritima
(sold as Lavatera maritima Bush Mallow)

Lavatera x clementii ‘Bredon Springs’

Lavatera x clementii ‘Kew Rose’

Lilium formosanum

Limonium perezii

Limonium platyphyllum

Limonium sinuatum

Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’

Lobelia dunni

Lobularia maritima
(sold as Easter Bonnet Mix)

Moricandia moricandioides

Pentas species

Raphanus raphanistrum

Raphanus sativus
(sold as April Cross)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Cabernet)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Cherry Belle)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as China Rose)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Chinese White)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Comet)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Crunchy Royale)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Early Scarlet Globe)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as French Breakfast)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Icicle)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Long White Icicle)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Masato Green)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Masato Red)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Minowase Early daikon)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Ping Pong)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Pink Beauty)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Red Boy)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Red Meat)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Round Black Spanish)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Sakurajima Mammoth)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Scarlet Globe)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Snow Belle)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Sparkler)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Szechuan Red)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as Tama)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as burpee white)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as champion)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as cherriette)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as lady slipper)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as plum purple)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as scarlet knight)

Raphanus sativus
(sold as summer cross)

Salvia africana-lutea

Salvia apiana

Salvia ballotiflora

Salvia blepharophylla

Salvia brandegei

Salvia buchananii

Salvia cacaliifolia

Salvia canariensis

Salvia chamaedryoides

Salvia chiapensis

Salvia cleveladii, or clevelandii

Salvia clevelandii

Salvia coahuilensis

Salvia coccinea ‘Brenthurst’

Salvia coccinea ‘Lady In Red’

Salvia coccinea
(sold as May Night)

Salvia coccinea
(sold as Rose Queen)

Salvia coccinea
(sold as Select Rose)

Salvia coerulea

Salvia confertiflora

Salvia discolor

Salvia dolomitica

Salvia elegans

Salvia elegans
(sold as Golden Delicious)

Salvia farinacea

Salvia fruticosa

Salvia fulgens

Salvia gesneriiflora

Salvia glechomifolia

Salvia greggii

Salvia greggii ‘Navajo Bright Red’

Salvia greggii ‘Navajo White’

Salvia greggii ‘Sierra San Antonio’

Salvia greggii
(sold as watermelon Autumn Sage pink)

Salvia hians

Salvia hybrid

Salvia indica

Salvia involucrata
(sold as El Cielo)

Salvia leucantha

Salvia leucantha ‘Santa Barbara’

Salvia leucophylla

Salvia longispicata

Salvia mellifera

Salvia mexicana

Salvia microphylla

Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’

Salvia microphylla
(sold as Bezerkeley)

Salvia microphylla
(sold as Rosita)

Salvia microphylla
(sold as ucb pink)

Salvia munzii

Salvia nemorosa

Salvia nemorosa ‘Sensation Rose’

Salvia nemorosa
(sold as Viola Klose)

Salvia officinalis ssp. lavandulifolia

Salvia officinalis

Salvia officinalis ‘Icterina’

Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’

Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’

Salvia pachyphylla

Salvia patens

Salvia pozo blue

Salvia pratensis

Salvia regla

Salvia roemeriana

Salvia sclerea

Salvia sinaloensis

Salvia spathacea

Salvia species

Salvia splendens

Salvia splendens ‘Salsa Purple’

Salvia uliginosa

Salvia urica

Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’

Salvia viridis

Salvia wagneriana

Salvia x jamensis

Salvia x sylvestris

Salvia x sylvestris
(sold as Snowhill)

Salvia ‘Indigo Spires’

Salvia ‘Waverly’

Salvia
(sold as Blue Victory)

Salvia
(sold as Red Hot Sally)

Salvia
(sold as Salsa Purple)

Salvia
(sold as Verona)

Scabiosa caucasica

Scabiosa caucasica ‘Fama’

Scabiosa columbaria

Scabiosa ochroleuca

Scabiosa ‘Pink Mist’

Syringa pubescens ssp. microphylla

Syringa pubescens ssp. patula ‘Miss Kim’

Syringa vulgaris ‘Charles Joly’

Taraxacum officinale

Tithonia rotundifolia

Verbena bonariensis

Verbena hastata

Verbena hybrid
(sold as Quartz scarlet)

Verbena hybrid
(sold as Sparkler Purple & White)

Verbena hybrid
(sold as Sparkler Red & White)

Verbena hybrid
(sold as Sparkler Sky Blue & White)

Verbena hybrid
(sold as Tapien Pink)

Verbena lilacina

Verbena rigida 'polaris'

Verbena rigida polaris

Verbena rigida

Verbena stricta

Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’

Verbena
(sold as Aztec Cherry Red)

Verbena
(sold as Aztec Light Pink)

Verbena
(sold as Aztec Pearl)

Verbena
(sold as Aztec Raspberry)

Verbena
(sold as Aztec White Magic)

Verbena
(sold as Babylon Deep Pink)

Verbena
(sold as Sparkler Purple & White)

Verbena
(sold as Sparkler Sky Blue & White)

Verbena
(sold as Tukana White)

Verbena
(sold as x hybrida Taylortown Red)

Zinnia elegans

Zinnia elegans
(sold as Magellan Coral)

Zinnia elegans
(sold as Magellan Yellow)

Zinnia elegans
(sold as Oklahoma Scarlet)

Zinnia elegans
(sold as Sizzle Cherry & Ivory)

Zinnia haageana

Zinnia peruviana

Zinnia species

Zinnia

Zinnia
(sold as Crystal White)

Zinnia
(sold as Dreamland Mix)

Zinnia
(sold as Dreamland scarlet)

Zinnia
(sold as Profusion Apricot)

Zinnia
(sold as Profusion Cherry)

Zinnia
(sold as Profusion Orange)

Zinnia
(sold as Profusion White)

Zinnia
(sold as Short Stuff Mix)

Zinnia
(sold as State Fair Mix)

Western Tiger Swallowtail, its range covering much of the western United States, will visit gardens and nectar on garden plants. It usually flies high off the ground but will swoop down to nectar and check out the neighborhood. If the garden conditions are favorable, it will choose your garden to form a brood. We have seen it nectaring on Verbena bonariensis, even with other flowering plants nearby. There is an affinity between them.

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) are known to use various trees as a host plant for laying their eggs. We have seen the caterpillar of this species nibbling on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and so have let this plant blossom and go to seed, converting parts of the vegetable garden into butterfly habitat. Fennel contributes to their life-cycle when growing in the vicinity of a host plant. Both Foeniculum vulgare and Verbena bonariensis can be grown in containers.

According to the butterflies and moths web site, Populus, Salix, Prunus and Fraxinus trees serve as host plants for this butterfly.

Western Tiger Swallowtail is a stunning fairly large butterfly that can be twice the size of other butterflies visiting your garden. It is a pale yellow shade overall with distinct black "swallowtail" markings and has a long tail extending from the lower hind wing.