Paul, I wouldn't grow a. elegans, unless I actually saw some polydmas swallowtails - actually, I wouldn't grow them even then if I were you, because polydamas swallowtails can also use the North American native vines. The range maps have red dotted lines or something like that to show the possible range of many butterflies, but you're not likely to ever see one. North American polydamas/goldrims only breed in the southern half of the Florida peninsula, also southern Texas. If you plant a. elegans you'll probably just poison pipevine swallowtail cats.
MissSherry

What would an aalternative host plant be that would work for both?

Polydamas swallowtails can eat all the Aristolochia species that pipevine swallowtails can, I believe.

Aristolochia fimbriata has been the most versatile pipevine for me by far. It is a small plant and a single plant cannot produce as much foliage as A. tomentosa can in the right cultural environment, but A. fimbriata will perform well in soils that will kill A. tomentosa.

Oh, yea, pipevine swallowtails will lay eggs on A. elegans, and the caterpillars will not be able to eat it.

I had polydamas swallowtails in my yard for the first time last year, and I believe that the ones early this Spring may have overwintered in or around my gardens. I overwintered one polydamas swallowtail inside, and released it in early Spring. Last year the polydamas made good use of the large well established A. gigantea. They seemed to ignore the A. elegans until it was the last thing left, but that wasn't the case the year before, because pvs laid eggs on it several times.

You can never have too many Aristolochia.

These Aristolochias are confusing! I want to have Pipevine Swallowtails in my garden (they are already in the county), but A, fimbriata isn't hardy here and A. tomentosa requires more water than we have in summer. Does anybody know exactly what the Pipevine Swallowtail host is for Zone 5? And where can I get some? I started some A. elegans from seed this year -- had quie a crop until I read that it is the wrong one.

Thanks,
Lime

Lime, the best host plants for your zone would undoubtedly be a. macrophylla and a. clematitis. You can order a. macrophylla from Sunlight Gardens.
MissSherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Aristolochia Macrophylla

And here's another mail-order nursery that carries both a. macrophylla and a. clematitis.
MissSherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Aristolochia Macrophylla & A. Clematitis

Paul, you don't need special vines for goldrims - they eat every aristolochia that you plant for PVSs.
MissSherry

What "special" conditions are you referring to, MissSherry, for A. tomentosa. I have some I'm growing in pots right now, until it gets bigger. They have been pretty much in constant moisture since we've had so much rain. I keep adding a bit of chicken manure to it because of the rain (washing the nutrients from the soil). They are doing fine so far and putting on new growth, altho not as fast as I would like! I'm wondering if I should be doing something else. They are getting quite a bit of sun, too, and not showing any sunburn.

Susan

I was referring to the goldrims/polydamas swallowtails that don't need special pipevines, Susan, at least that's what I meant to say. Pipevines are somewhat mysterious to me, too - my newest ones aren't growing as fast as I'd like. I guess I need to be patient and maybe fertilize them with chicken manure and/or a little chemical fertilizer. I never thought my garden a. tomentosas would colonize, but now they're coming up everywhere down the long fece, so, again, these are vines that require a little patience - plus a little fertilizer, neutral soil, water and good drainage.
MissSherry

YOU guys know more than I do, but PV seems to like filtered sun in the south. I have several in large pots, and place it in the shade...doing purdy good. Those I have planted (tomentosa, durior, climatidea) are doing very well in the 2nd year, from what I read, the plant really takes off when the roots become established, and to my understanding, root growth really happens in fall & winter when the plant becomes dormant (except perhaps in very cold areas where it would occur in spring?) But I'm waiting for my first PV to come.....

Thanks for clearing this up for me, Miss Sherry! I am using the link as soon as I post.

Lime

I ordered two A. Macrophylla from sunlight gardens and they just arrived. The plants look good. They were 10 dollars each plus shipping. That seemed a little steep for me since I'm so used to just buying at the nurseries. But I haven't been able to locate ANY pipevine this year so I went ahead and splurged.

Nevertheless, I'm happy to have them.

For those of you who have A. macrophylla, what should I expect sizewise here in zone 6,CT, and how much sun will they handle?

Maryann