Plant whisperers, anthophiles and plantsmen and women everywhere are fascinated by the hot new houseplant on the block.
It’s called Christia obcordata, but the more common name is the Butterfly plant because of it’s stunning foliage.
At the moment Butterfly plants are quite rare, with most plant fans growing their own from seed.
A neat exotic plant like this has very specific constraints to grow and thrive.
If you are looking for information on Christia Obcordata, you have landed in the right place!
In This Article:’ We bring together everything you need to know about this quirky plant, and how you can grow your own!
Christia Obcordata: the Butterfly Plant Guide
This Asian exotic plant is suddenly becoming more popular across the globe.
Christia obcordata, is a prostrate herbaceous perennial where the alluring foliage is made up of uniquely triangular burgundy striped green leaves resembling an opened butterfly’s wings.
In addition to the unique foliage arrangement, Christia obcordata grows on long thin stems allowing the broad variegated leaves to flutter with the slightest of breezes or any movement nearby – just as a butterfly would!
Prior to becoming the hottest houseplant around, Christia obcordata was a native of the Asian tropics where it would grow in grasslands, waste grounds, and thickets.
No, Obcordata is a type of Christia.
Christia obcordata (Poir.) Bakh.f. is a flowering leguminous family member, Fabaceae, that include peas and beans, not to be confused with Grass Pea.
There are at least 10 other species in the Christia genus and they, like, Obcordata, are not only prostrate but herbaceous perennial plants.
As a legume, it has a very beneficial symbiotic relationship with bacteria that live in root nodules of C. obcordata to fix nitrogen, improving soil health for C. obcordata and other plants.
Christia Obcordata is an exotic and is native to tropical areas across Southeast Asia that includes:
- India
- Thailand
- Australia
- Taiwan
- and Laos
It is described as a bush or shrub and may be referred to as:
- Butterfly plant
- Butterfly stripe
- Butterfly wing plant
- Swallowtail
- Hedysarum obcordatum Poir.
- Lourea obcordata (Poir.) Desv.
Christia Obcordata Tropical Plant Profile
| Position | Partial sun, partial shade, medium sun |
| Location | Predominantly indoor, but outdoor cultivation is possible if conditions are optimal |
| Soil type | Peat moss, well-drained, moist |
| Soil pH | Alkaline |
| Hardiness zone/ region | 11(southern US, Australia, central and southern Europe, north Africa, southeast Asia) |
| Minimum temperature | 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 to 10 degrees Celsius) |
| Climate | Humid subtropical |
| Difficulty of cultivation | Moderate |
| Foliage | Semi-evergreen |
| Rate of growth | Moderate |
| Pattern of growth | Clumping shrub or bush |
| Maximum spread | 18 to 24 inches by 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 centimetres by 46 to 61 centimetres) |
| Stem length | 5.9 inches to 23.6 inches (15 to 60 centimetres) |
| Rootstock | Rhizomatous |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
Christia Obcordata Tropical Plant Profile
Christia Obcordata Growing Guide
Because specimens of Christia obcordata are not readily available, many plant lovers are eager and interested in growing this perennial from seeds, when they get a hold of them themselves.
As being a tropical species, attempts to grow the Butterfly plant in a temperate climate has had a trial and error approach.
In this section of the article we want to share what appears to be effective in growing swallowtail from seeds as a houseplant and outside.
How Do You Germinate Christia Obcordata?
Because Christia Obcordata is an exotic and relatively rare, you will likely find it easier to get the seeds for C. Obcordata rather than the haunt itself!
Luckily you can be successful growing Christia obcordata from seeds!
You can sow your purchased seeds in or on the top surface of your moist substrate that has good drainage.
To germinate you will need to keep the seeds warm and humid. You can do this by covering the seeds with a thin layer of clear nylon which can be taken off each day for aeration.
Keep them in very bright location but avoid direct sunlight. Viable Christia Obcordata seeds will germinate in 10 to 14 days.
How Do You Plant Swallowtail Seeds?
One of the most important things for success in planting swallowtail seeds is to use a good quality, nutrient rich compost.
You can germinate the seeds on a makeup pad and later transplant once germinated. The time for transplanting would be once you had organic rich all-purpose compost that the seedlings can do individual plug pots.
Surprisingly soaking the seeds in room temperature filtered water actually helps to get the seeds ready to germinate.
You can use a heat mat to keep them warm and moist if you live in a non-warmer climate.
Here is a video of some swallowtail seeds being germinated.
Planting Swallowtail Stripe Outdoors
Assuming you have a suitable outdoor environment, you may want to grow swallowtail outdoors.
If you started swallowtail from seed, you can also take a young plant outdoors, in either a large container or planting them directly in the ground.
Here are the basic steps.
Choose a Location Where Your Plant or Plants Will Have Adequate Space
You’ll want to avoid crowding your young C. obcordata plants to give them room for root development and not have to compete for available light.
Christia species do not like direct sunlight, nor do they like exposure, try to find a place with partial shade and shelter.
Prepare Your Soil
You need to loosen existing soil thoroughly so this vigorous perennial can quickly become established.
Add generous amounts of organic materials like peat moss or compost to your soil. You might want to add fertilizer at this point, as well.
Dig a Hole
Dig a hole at least twice the size of the potted plant.
Make sure the hole is deep enough, so that when you backfill soil into the hole, the plant is level with the surrounding ground.
Remove Your Butterfly Plant from Its Pot
Make sure to do this carefully to prevent damaging developing roots.
Tip your pot over, tap it and rotate it to loosen up the soil, then slide the young plant out.
If the roots have filled the container, you might need to loosen the soil around the roots.
Plant Your Christia Obcordata
Put the young plant into the hole first and then gently backfill with soil around the roots.
Press down the soil around the planted Swallowtail plant with your hand or trowel until it is level.
You will water your new planting as per the guidelines below.
Add Support for Your Christia Obcordata
Make the most of the “butterfly” effect of this shrub by giving it plenty of vertical space to spread naturally, and offering support by staking, wigwams or other support.
How Do You Take Care of Butterfly Plants?
Here’s the procedure:
- If you want your butterfly plant to really grow fast and show off, a feed will help its performance tremendously.
- The best thing for feeding Butterfly plants is any type of all-purpose fertilizer. You can use granules, liquid feeds or slow-release preparations to perk your plant up! Use the feed as directed.
- A little pruning to tidy up and remove any dead or dying leaves or to shape your plant is all it needs.
- If it gets too cold you may need to protect it or consider moving it indoors.
Does Butterfly Plant Need Sunlight?
Christia obcordata prefers bright light, but full sun may be too much for this plant.
As long as you maintain a reasonable temperature, partial shade may suit your new plant nicely. 6 to 8 hours of sunlight is a must.
How Do You Water Butterfly Plants?
Swallowtail plant likes moisture and humidity, so it’s essential to establish a watering regime so that this plant is well-tended to.
When you first plant or pot a Butterfly plant, you should water lightly every day for the first 2 weeks, especially if you plant in sandy soil which is hard to keep watered.
You will eventually taper down to watering every 2 to 3 days.
When watering a Christia obcordata plant, make sure to focus the water at the roots, which typically extend a distance of no more than 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) from the base of a mature plant. Soaker hoses can work well at delivering water to this plant, especially if the humidity is low, create a wet area at the base of the plant.
To tell if this plant has enough water you can check the soil level around the base of the plant. If the first few inches of soil depth are dry you need to be watering.
Keep in mind: Don’t get water on the leaves of the Christia obcordata plant since this can increase the chances of the grower dealing with mold and mildew.
Christia Obcordata Propagation
At this point in time the most common method of getting new plants of C. obcordata is to start from seeds.
Nevertheless, horticulturists are also doing some experimenting with cutting to propagate these unique plants.
If successful, it could provide a method to get a mature plant much faster because don’t have the burden of starting the C. obcordata plant from seeds.
Many gardeners and horticulturists that grow this plant will spend a little money on LED grow lights to leverage what the plant demand for adequate sunlight for growth.
Here’s an excellent video that explains even more about the practical side of propagating obcordata.
Is the Butterfly Plant an Indoor Plant?
The Christia obcordata can be grown indoors as a houseplant or a greenhouse plant.
Since it is a USDA zone 11 or 12 plant it is expected to adapt well with warm indoors, close to a window, and with plenty of sunlight.
Rounding Up
This plant really lives up to its beautiful appearance and will make a nice addition to your home, greenhouse or garden.
Growing Christia obcordata from seeds is a rewarding challenge in itself and at the moment, it’s considered the most reliable way for people in the UK, Europe and US to get a plant.
There is still a gap in our knowledge regarding its ability to acclimatize and thrive in temperate climatic conditions, as well as potential pests and problems. But for now, enjoy the challenge and joy of actually seeing all those fluttering butterfly wings for yourself!