Swallowtail Plant

Botanical Name: Christia Obcordata 

Christia Obcordata, sometimes referred to as the ‘Swallowtail’, is an impressive herb with wing-shaped leaves.  More impressive still are the markings on these wing-like leaves, which display as a set of rich mahogany stripes along the leaf’s veins, symmetrical on either side of the stem.  They can grow to be three feet tall and wide, so they’re the perfect size for adding some flair to the corner of a room as a standing plant.

The Swallowtail is fairly hardy, able to handle temperatures as low as four degrees Celsius, so indoor growers should have no issues regulating temperature. Swallowtails generally like a fair amount of shade and should not be kept in direct sunlight.  They ought to be watered two or three times per week when it is hot, and not at all during winter, which is when they become dormant. Swallowtails are not at all fussy about soil.