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Aristolochia californica – Aristolochicaeae - 'California Pipevine,' 'Dutchman's Pipe,' 'California Snakeroot.' - This California endemic is one of the most distinctive native plants, and is beautiful in the garden, adaptable, medicinal, and essential to butterflies to boot! It's flowers are similar to the tropical Aristolochias, some of which have insectivorous flowers. Insects will get lost in the flower, and caught for a time, but it is not insectivorous as was once thought. It is the only host for the beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars acquire toxins from eating the leaves, making them unpalatable to predators.

As other species of Aristolochia worldwide, this has been utilized as a medicinal herb, both by native Californians as well as in the modern era.

This vine is native to streamside forests in the hot summer areas of northern California, and is adaptable to garden use as well. It grows best when the roots are moist and the tops are in partial shade or full sun, but can also tolerate summer drought. It is hardy to 20ºF in the winter, and can tolerate extreme heat and humidity in the summer. California Snakeroot twines to 10' plus, or however tall the support you provide is. It is also a good candidate if you have a wooded area or streamside at the edge of your property - it will gladly twine up shrubs and trees, but is never overwhelming.