Gulf Coast Swallow-Wort

Pattalias palustris

Native to:
Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Is., Cuba, Mexico, Turks-Caicos Is., United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Apocynaceae
Genus:
Pattalias
Species:
Pattalias palustris
USDA Symbol:
CYAN5

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Vine
Height:
60 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
white, pink

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Eucereon carolina, Eucereon confine, Florida milkweed vine moth (Glyphodes floridalis), Obscure Sphinx (Erinnyis obscura), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
butterflies, bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers wetland areas with organic matter

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate best with light exposure and consistent moisture. Cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI