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Swallowtail Plant

Also known as

Butterfly Plant

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Christia obcordata

Genus

Christia

Family

Fabaceae

Order

Fabales

How to care for Swallowtail Plant

💦 Water

How often to water your Swallowtail Plant

Swallowtail Plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Swallowtail Plant in your home

Swallowtail Plant can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Swallowtail Plant in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Swallowtail Plant

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Swallowtail Plant: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Swallowtail Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #SwallowtailPlant

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Swallowtail Plant prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Swallowtail Plant Water Frequency →

Swallowtail Plant Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Swallowtail Plant can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Swallowtail Plant Light Requirements →

Swallowtail Plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Swallowtail Plant is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Swallowtail Plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-13b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Swallowtail Plant Temperature Tolerance →

Swallowtail Plant Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Swallowtail Plant →

When to Plant Swallowtail Plant →

How to Plant Swallowtail Plant →

Where to Plant Swallowtail Plant →

Winter Care for Swallowtail Plant →

Best Companion Plants for Swallowtail Plant →

Is Swallowtail Plant a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Swallowtail Plant can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Swallowtail Plant →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Swallowtail Plant, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.