Why I planted pipevine

The colorful caterpillars you see below munching away on my pipevine (Aristolochia species) are going to turn into beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterflies (Battus philenor), and this vine's being eaten is exactly what I was hoping for when I planted it. This may seem counterintuitive, but the truth is that if you are going to support butterflies, you need both larval and nectar plants, and the larval plants get eaten. Pipevine (or Dutchman's pipe) is the primary food source for the pipevine swallowtail, and I have friends who grow it who say theirs has been completely defoliated three times in a season. I spied two swallowtail cats yesterday and today there were six, so I am hoping to be so lucky. Pipevine's a vigorous grower and I have no doubt it can handle whatever eating occurs. If you want to support pipevine swallowtails, plant one (there are species that will grow in most parts of the country), and celebrate when the eating begins.

Chomp, chomp. This is why you plant larval plants for butterflies.

You can find hints of the butterfly's coloration in the wild-looking caterpillar.

Here you can get an idea of where pipevine gets its common name.

What the above will grow into. (Photo via Wikipedia.)

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5 of 53 comments

Kathleen Conery on Jul 14, 2014
Excellent, we had wanted to plant milkweed (for the monarchs) anyway! And the landscaper had mentioned a native honeysuckle that was not invasive as the japanese one is. So that's two good options right off the bat...and I will most definitely be reading that article for further ideas. Thank you!

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- Douglas Hunt on Jul 14, 2014
  @Kathleen Conery It sounds like your landscaper knows his (or her) stuff. We'd love to see some photos of what you're doing.
  
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- Kathleen Conery on Jul 14, 2014
  You're so right! I should be taking many more photos! The previous owners had invested much of their 40 years in this house beautifying the yards, but life changes and physical challenges meant that for the last 5-10 years the gardens got out of control and swallowed themselves. We are incredibly grateful for the many mature trees (cherries, maples, dogwoods and redbuds), but right now it feels like we're taking out more than we're putting in! And yes, this landscaper does seem to know his stuff! Like many I would have thought a landscaper well out of my range, but I wandered past his booth at the home renovation show and started chatting about the overgrown garden with all the plants I couldn't identify and didn't know what to do with... and he suggested an hourly rate consultation. While we couldn't afford an all out design and landscaping job, for a very reasonable fee he walked the entire perimeter of each planting bed and named things... suggesting what to leave, what to take out, and what to add (like Dutchman's Pipevine). As his special interest is in native plants he had so many specific local suggestions to offer. I would tell anyone now... talk to a landscaper. Ask for a consultation. It's not much more than the cost of the multiple plants you might put in the wrong spots on your own! Sorry for the out of control long response... I guess I'm kind of excited about this gardening thing.
  
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- Douglas Hunt on Jul 15, 2014
  @Kathleen Conery Thanks for sharing your experience. I have often recommended people work with professionals for exactly the reasons you have outlined.
  
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Comet on May 02, 2016
This is grown here in far Northern Upstate NY and Vermont as mostly a porch screen vine; it keeps the sun down and gives privacy. Have never noticed the caterpillers or the particular butterfly but will see if I can find the vine at a local nursery or get a cutting--I know many houses that have this come back year after year--very pretty.

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