Aristolochia salvadorensis-the “Darth Vader” flower-rare, easy to grow tropical

Images one through four show details of my stock specimen and garden plants in my collection in Guatemala. The offering consists of a well-branched, clean and fully-rooted cutting shown in the fifth and sixth images, planted in a 3.5”/9 cm rose pot in a well-drained soil-less mix. Overall sapling height with pot ~20”/50 cm. Staked for training upright. Aristolochia salvadorensis is an extremely rare and desirable small tropical forest understory tree that occurs at low and intermediate elevations of southeastern Guatemala and western El Salvador. My plants are the product of more than 15 years of line breeding started from outstanding wild-collected stock hand-collected by me. Please note that the trees grown in U.S. botanical gardens such as Fairchild in Miami, Florida originated from donations made directly by me. This is a large, rooted cutting from F2 seed-propagated plants made from selected parents that begin to flower in youth. Made famous (infamous?) online as the “Dark Vader Plant” or “Space Invaders”, the dark, rather sinister-looking, almost reptilian flowers make for a great conversation piece in your garden or greenhouse. While growing to almost 10’ high, they are easily pruned to form a rather handsome 4’ bush. Well-suited for pot culture in a greenhouse or shaded patio. Once established, they flower prolifically from basal stems and can form large flowering clumps over time. This species is of relatively easy pot culture under intermediate to warm tropical conditions, but can handle brief spells of overnight low temperatures at least into the mid-40s F with no visible damage. It must be sheltered from wind. All plants offered are greenhouse grown on benches in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Shipping: Plants will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail with tracking number for physical addresses within three working days of receipt of payment, weather permitting. Wherever possible, plants will be shipped in plastic pots. If bare-rooting is required for shipment to your state, please advise when auction is completed. Discounts on mailing charges available for multiple plant purchases. Delays : plants may be held for shipment if extreme weather conditions (involving sustained sub 40 degree F or 98+ F temperatures) are forecast for destination and buyer will be notified of this decision. Paid-for purchased material will be greenhoused on my end me until a window of mild weather is forecast. Should the buyer insist on prompt shipment, in writing, when a severe weather warning is in effect, the live arrival guarantee is void. Payment is expected within 48 hours of receipt of invoice and invoice will be sent shortly after auction close. No International Sales. No local pickup. Live arrival guarantee . Photographic evidence of damage or loss in transit must be provided within 24 hours of arrival to receive same species replacement material or refund. Photos and text descriptions are property of the seller and may not be used by third parties without prior written permission by me.