What area of MO do you live in, Crittergirl? I'm kinda familiar with Missouri, since I'm originally from SE Kansas, and now Oklahoma.

We are getting lots of Pipevines this year, too. Heck, we're getting lots of butterflies, period! Congrats on your PVS cats - they're such gregarious lil things.

I think that if you check our vendor list here, there are several mail-order sources for different pipevines. In our area, Aristolochia tomentosa, A. macrophylla, A. serpentaria, and A. clematitis do the best. The first 3 are all natives. A. clematitis is of mediterrania origin, but it works just great. It's not a vine, and I think it gets about 2'-2.5' tall. I'm finding that pinching back my pipevines really helps to stimulate new growth on them.

Susan

I'm in Kansas City, so it's pretty far north. I've yet to see a PVS around here, outside of wooded areas, but I guess they're starting to show up now.

Duchman's is usually the one I can get hold of easiest, because local growers bring it to the Powell Gardens butterfly show and I can buy it there.

I saw a Dutchman's Pipe plant today at the nursery I go to and it is from American Beauties Native Plants and I had it in my hands and I was going to buy it but, I just didn't think we get them around here in PA. If you look it up it says we do but I was unsure and it's kinda expensive.

Now that I read your post I think I'm going to go and get it tomorrow. It has all the info about the Pipevine Swallowtails on the label-it's cute--and pretty big already. They have a trellis on it.

Aggie

Congratulations, Crittergirl!
MissSherry

Very pretty PVS cats! Congrats! I haven't gotten any here yet, but this is my first year with the Dutchman's Pipe, so it's probably best if they wait to show up another year and let the vine get bigger.
Cathy

Cathy - heehee - that's what I said for this year, because I don't think mine are big enough. However, I had enough to feed the two cats I found, and now I have 5 more! The tomentosa has grown considerably, so that's what they're getting right now. I found the second batch on A. serpentaria.

I am wondering, though, how big the cats need to be before they can start eating the larger, somewhat tougher, leaves? Anyone got suggestions? I have been feeding the babies the tender growth, but I will soon be out of that. They are about 3rd instar right now.

Susan

Susan,

they usually eat the nubs of the stems before they hit the tough leaves. PV grows back quickly, and 1 strategy may be to cut some older tough leaves off the plant when your kitties are still small (or even eggs), that way, they should grow fresh ones for you....

Thanks, Paul! I'll do that. I do know that the A. clematitis grows back very quickly. Wasn't sure about tomentosa, though. Already some new growth on the serpentaria, too, but not near enough to feed 5 PVS cats.

I'm still pulling off all of the newer growth that I can right now. I'm so excited to have them this year. Once they find your garden, they will find it again (that's my theory and I'm stickin' to it)! LOL!

Susan