Sweet Bay Magnolia and Tiger Swallowtails
If you don’t want to plant a gigantic tulip tree to attract Tiger Swallowtails, consider the smaller Sweet Bay Magnolia. You can keep it trimmed down to a manageable size to be able to find the larvae.
It also appears to be a host plant for Giant Swallowtails.
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When you say “manageable size” how tall & wide are you saying? The info. I find says they get 30-40 ft. tall. Thanks!
I use my pruning shears whenever needed to keep things down to size.
How short are you able to keep yours pruned down? My space only allows for 6 ft tall or less. Do you keep yours pruned that short? Thanks!
My plant is in its 3rd year and is only 40″ tall and 36″ wide. It will get larger if you let it, but I want to see the Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars, so I’m going to keep mine short – under 6′. It does have a multi-stem habit which I’m going to encourage.
You’ve been very helpful and I like this blog. Thanks! I will definitely be visiting often.