Aristolochia serpentaria is a delightful little native perennial (Iowa southeast to Florida) that's sadly not grown ornamentally as much as it should be. Medicinally, however, it's harvested in large quantities for use as a stimulating tonic to promote appetite, although too much will start you on a marathon run from both ends. Aristolochia serpentaria makes a small rock garden-sized specimen to 10" tall x 15" wide, clothed in light green, hastate-shaped leaves. In late spring, look carefully at the base and you'll catch the small Dutchman's pipe flowers and, in mid-summer, you'll notice that the larvae of the brown and orange pipevine swallowtail have stopped by for a snack. Soon after, you'll enjoy a garden full of these beautiful butterflies. Our offering was grown from seed from a population we visited in Eagle Rock, Virginia.
