Richmond birdwing vine — Pararistolochia praevenosa

Pararistolochia praevenosa

Host plant for butterflies and insects Near threatened Shelter for wildlife

$7.00

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Plant profile

At a glance

The essentials for finding the right garden position.

Mature size: Height: climbing 10 m+ · Width: variable with support
Light: Part shade, Full shade
Water: Moist
Soil: Loamy, Clay
Drainage: Well-drained • Moderately drained
Vegetation type: Rainforest, Wet Eucalypt
Plant lifespan: Long-lived perennial
Plant form: Climbers

Plant ratings

A quick guide to this plant’s value for wildlife and the garden.

Bird food value
Host plant value
Pollinator value
Shelter & habitat value
Flower display
Garden resilience

About this plant

A large native rainforest climber grown above all for its ecological importance: it is the primary larval food plant of the Richmond birdwing butterfly. Its vigorous climbing habit and unusual flowers suit a habitat-focused garden with substantial support.

Conservation status: Near threatened in Queensland. The vine itself has a fragmented distribution and faces threats from rainforest clearing, invasive weeds and habitat disturbance. Planting this native host vine in suitable gardens within the Richmond Birdwing’s natural range can provide food for its caterpillars, alongside the continuing need to protect rainforest habitat.

Image credits:
Mature image: Greg Tasney via iNaturalist — CC BY-SA 4.0
Feature image: Peter Woodard (Poyt448) via Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0
Adult male Richmond birdwing: Dr Don Sands / CSIRO, via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0
Richmond birdwing caterpillar: Pawel Zborowski / CSIRO, via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0

More plant details

Garden uses: Butterfly habitat garden, rainforest garden, pergola or strong trellis, restoration planting and wildlife corridor.
Wildlife value: Not grown as a bird-food plant. The main lowland food plant for Richmond Birdwing butterfly caterpillars in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. Growing this vine provides breeding habitat for the butterfly, rather than just nectar for visiting adults. Flowers are specialised and pollinated by small flies rather than functioning as a broad nectar resource. A mature vine creates dense vertical cover and habitat through the shrub and canopy layers.
Flowering and fruiting: Unusual tubular brownish to purplish flowers are followed by ribbed capsules containing numerous seeds.
Growth habit: Large woody rainforest climber capable of reaching high into supporting vegetation; allow substantial vertical space.
Cautions: Requires strong support and plenty of room. Do not confuse it with introduced Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia elegans), which is toxic to Richmond birdwing larvae.