Yellow Butterfly Orchid Vine

I have had in my yard for some time a lovely deer proof, freeze proof, and drought tolerant vine that blooms prolifically all summer. I always just called it a Butterfly Vine because after its yellow blooms turned a lovely soft green and then a medium brown, the unique seed seed pods formed. They were quite obviously butterfly shaped. I never really knew the name of the vine or anything about it.

This week, I looked it up under the simple and obvious name of Butterfly Vine. Lo and behold, I found out that it is called a Yellow Butterfly Orchid Vine because its abundant yellow flowers resemble orchids and because the seed pods do indeed resemble dried butterflies. I have learned that a woman in San Antonio paints the pods and then sells them for other people’s creative projects. Even the seed companies themselves sell the seed pods for this purpose as well as for propagation purposes.

The botanical name is Stigmaphyllon cilliatum although other botanical names were also given. I have no idea where or when I obtained this plant. I have had it climbing around a tree and a nearby stair rail for a number of years. It blooms prolifically all summer, stays green all year, and needs very little water or other care. I am surprised that I have not seen more of them around.

When a friend came over to see the Yellow Butterfly Orchid Vine we discovered that some of the vines that were trailing on the ground had begun to root at the nodes. She took a piece with roots home to plant in hopes that she could grow a vine for herself. If anyone is interested in seeing this plant and obtaining a cutting or a few of the seed pods, please give me a call at 512-847-8774 for directions.

Written by Martha Knies