I broadcast fennel seeds in my shady beds in hope of attracting swallowtail butterflies. I've only seen one this year, but based on these two guys, there had to be at least 2.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Fennel is very common here and I have several in my garden. The connection with the Swallowtail is something I did not know about. Wonder if birds go after the caterpillars?
JackPedigo
Level 9
Aug 3, 2021
1
The two that I see most often here are the tiger and colossal. I think the reason they like the fennel and coriander is that the birds feel the same as I do about the taste especially concentrated.
@glennlab One that is common here is the bronze Fennel.
I love fennel for its own sake as well, it is not just a great herb but looks so attractive too. I don't know why more people don't grow it, though the fact that there are the two forms both the root vegetable and the leaf herb can cause confusion.
Fernapple
Level 9
Aug 3, 2021
2
I don't particularly like the the licorice flavor, so it is just for the butterflies, it is both a host and nectar source for the swallowtails.
@glennlab It seems that our swallow tail here, lives on the Milk Parsley, Peucedanum palustre , so perhaps I would not get it on fennel anyway.
You say that you do not like the licorice flavour, does that mean that you are growing the Florence Fennel type with the edible white bulbs at the base ? Have you tried the leaf herb, which has more of an anice flavour.
@Fernapple Since I'm not a fan of the flavor, I buy my seeds at the asian market, I get about 70 % to sprout and only pay $3 a pound instead of $3 for 1/8 of an ounce. I buy my cilantro the same way for a simalar price difference. I don't eat it either, but the swallowtails like it too. You really have to check on what the local butterflies like. I have adjusted my plantings so that I have a good mix for several varieties.
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