I've got some Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia snakeroot) seed to share with the DG members this fall.
Aristolochia serpentaria is a non-invasive perennial native pipevine that the pipevine swallowtail uses as a host plant for its young. It is not a large plant, perhaps attaining a height of 12-15". It does require shade and can be adapted to a range of climate growing zones (4-9). I have been cultivating this plant for quite awhile now, with the intent of making it available to butterfly gardeners, as it is somewhat difficult to come by.
My beds of A. serpentaria really drew in the PVS this summer as a testament to how well they perform as a host plant and attractant to the PVS.
Anyway, contact me if you are wanting some seed or would like more information about this plant or where to obtain some specimens.
Rod Angeroth
rodangeroth@yahoo.com
Virginia snakeroot for pipevine swallowtails
Rod, great offer! I am going to look it up now. I have planted butterfly hosts this year for the first time and I have had wonderful success. Do you really mean that it only grows 12-15 inches? or feet?
I will get back to you soon, Thanks.
chris
Wow!! it really is inches. I will be sending an E-mail tonight. ( I need to change computors) Thank You! What would you like in trade and how much is postage?
chris
This message was edited Sep 28, 2007 6:08 PM
Thank you, Rod, for the offer. I will send you an e-mail.
Our park ranger here in Hamilton County told me that this particular (unobtrusive) aristolachia is the one that our pipevine swallowtails use quite a bit for oviposting here in our part of the mid-west.
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/virginia_snakeroot.htm
I don't know if that is because other pipevines are not so readily available in the wild here, or if the serpentaria is more 'tasty' to them than the others. In any case, I would love to have some more growing in our neighborhood.
BTW I am so glad that you are posting on our forum--I know from reading posts on GW that you have a lot of knowledge about native plants and have a pretty good supply of them, too. I hope you will keep us updated.
Thanks again.