Aristolochia californica

Dutchman's pipe vine

A California native vine that is the larval food for the Pipe Vine Swallowtail butterfly. The larva are very cute black and orange catepillars that Toby was looking for in Not Quite Happily Ever After when he got attacked by the wasps. This vine is one of the 'first year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps' type of plants. It does best with regular water and a bit of shade, especially to start. Often times deer don't eat Aristolochia.

aristolochia flower