A tomentosa seeds sprouting

15 years ago

My wooly pipevine seeds that I harvested last fall are germinating. I hope those that got some from me are having success. I found 6 sprouted seeds today in my bag of damp perlite. I cold stratified them for 6 weeks and then just set the bag out on the counter. I am so excited!

Sandy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

MissSherry
15 years ago
Fantastic!
I tried growing a. tomentosa from seed several years ago and failed - I guess you've figured out how to do it, Sandy!
Sherry
caterwallin
15 years ago
That's great, Sandy! I'm really happy for you that you're having success with them. I planted A. macrophylla two years ago, got A. serpentaria seeds from Rod Angeroth last year, and got A. tomentosa seeds from someone on the forum who had offered them. So hopefully I'll have good luck with seeds germinating and I'll have three different types of pipevine to offer the butterflies. Of course, I wouldn't think that the last two I mentioned will be big enough to feed cats this year yet. I still haven't gotten any Pipevine Swallowtails here (not showing in my county on butterfliesandmoths.org but is for neighboring counties), but I really have been hoping that they hold off until the pipevine is big enough, so maybe this year or next year I can raise some on it. I'll have to get more fencing for it. It didn't do much its first year, but last year it really took off, which I was very pleased about. I'm not sure which pipevine is most decided by the butterflies to lay their eggs on, but I'm trying to have all bases covered. Knowing you, you're well stocked up on it. ;-)
Cathy
Related Discussions
WANTED: Royal Empress Tree (Pawlonia tomentosa) seeds
Q
Comments (2)
I have bought and planted some Pawlonia tomentosa seeds as to instructions : soak in warm water for 24 hours, plant in potting soil, barely cover, do not exclude light. Thats all!. Can anyone tell me how to treat them after that?. Watering,fertilizer, etc. Thanks in advance
...See More
WANTED: Royal Empress Tree (Pawlonia tomentosa) seeds
Q
Comments (2)
If you're still looking I have some. Thanks.
...See More
Aristolochia tomentosa (Pipe Vine) Seeds
Q
Comments (4)
I think I have answered the e-mails. If i have not just e-mail me again. I still have some seeds.
...See More
Aristolochia tomentosa - Dutchmans Pipevine seed
Q
Comments (8)
Tom, thank you for sharing your growing experience. I've never had any suckers nor seed, as far as I know. I remember Sherry mentioning she also gets suckers on her vines and I 'think' she said she'd also never seen seed on her vines. My vines are planted in a raised bed. I enjoy trying new things so will winter sow some of these seed and will report back on the results. I know I've seen comments from forum members who look for sources of seed or vines in the spring when they're planting new host plants so perhaps this will be of help to someone. Since I began growing this vine, I've had Pipevine butterflies every year. One year I had so many little cats and adults I could witness at least one or two flitting about, nectar'ing on flowers, no matter how many times a day I went outside. That was the year the Pipevine cats completely stripped my patch of little white veined Dutchman's vines. They seem to prefer those vines (most likely because the leaves are smaller and softer) but one would need a very large area of them to feed very many cats to maturity. I noticed on one of the Florida native plants web site that they offer another variety of this vine, with no mention that the Pipevine butterfly WILL deposit eggs on these other vines but the little Pipevine cats will perish while feeding on them. Do you know if the Polydamas will deposit their eggs on this variety, Aristolochia tomentosa? If so, I'll only plant the Aristolochia tomentosa vine at my daughter's house in south Florida. I'll let you know how the seed do. Mary
...See More
butterflymomok
Original Author
15 years ago
I think I sent you the tomentosa seeds. Did you wintersow all the seeds? I will be curious to see how they do with wintersowing. Keep us informed. I have found them to be tricky to germinate.

Sandy
caterwallin
15 years ago
Sandy, I didn't get the tomentosa seeds from you, but you did send me false nettle seeds that I wintersowed and can hardly wait until spring to see how well they do. Now that I'm on the subject, are the FN a fast grower? I didn't know if I'd have a lot the first year to feed RA's.

I am curious now to see if my tomentosa seeds will germinate since you mentioned that. I don't know how you sowed your tomentosa seeds before, but it's too bad that they didn't germinate then. I'm glad that you've had success this time. I hope that wintersowing works. It has worked wonderfully for my other seeds that I sowed last year and that's how I'm doing all my seeds this year.
Cathy
butterflymomok
Original Author
15 years ago
Sorry, I just remember sending tomentosa seeds to several people! I'm glad you were able to find some. This was my first year to get seed on my plant so it's been my first time to plant them. I soaked them 24 hours and put them in a baggy of damp perlite and then into the fridge for about 6 to 7 weeks. I took them out and just left them sitting on countertop. One day I saw roots sprouting, so I potted those. This would work with serpentaria, also. But wintersowing is the easiest.

False Nettle comes up pretty fast. Then the BFs have to find it. It took them a year to find it here. I just rub the seeds off and new plants come up every year. Last year, a false nettle plant came up in a pot and I left it. It was the one plant that I was able to rescue cats from. They seem to get eaten very quickly by frogs. Last year, we had the "frog plague", they were everywhere! So, watch the plants very carefully for the little nests.

Sandy
caterwallin
15 years ago
Sandy, That's okay, I'm sure you probably send out pretty many seeds to people and I know I wouldn't remember who I sent what to. I'm lucky if I can remember what day it is. Ha.

I'm glad to hear that you think the wintersowing method will be okay for the false nettle then. I think I just pressed the seeds into the soil and didn't bury them. They're fairly small, so I thought that would be best. That's good that they come up fast. I sure would like to get some RA cats here to raise. Is it possible to bring them in like Monarchs and keep them in containers to feed them or are they kind of finicky like AL's and prefer to be on a plant instead of just feeding them single leaves? Since they make a nest, I'm kind of thinking keeping them on the plant would be best. If not a whole plant, then maybe a section of it kept in water?

I think I remember you saying about your frog plague. Sorry to hear that. I like frogs, but I also like butterflies. Hopefully the frogs won't be so plentiful at your place this year.

Yes, I'll be sure to watch the false nettle plants for the little nests. I'll post if I get any cats.

Cathy
butterflymomok
Original Author
15 years ago
Cathy,

I definitely bring the cats in. And, the good thing is, the False Nettle that you break off to feed the cats will root in water, and you'll have more!

Sandy
caterwallin
15 years ago
Ooh, that's great, Sandy! I appreciate the info. That's what I'll do if I get any.
Cathy