ARISTOLOCHIA
californica.
California pipevine. This native of woods and streamsides is both a curiosity
and an attractive ornamental vine. It grows 6-10' tall, sometimes more, and has
profusely branched stems, which hang in dense curtains from larger shrubs and
trees or form equally dense carpets on the ground. The leaves are roughly heart-shaped,
up to 6" long and softly furry. Among them hang many odd flowers 1-2" long, first
displayed on bare stems in late winter. The flowers are shaped like an old-fashioned
Dutch pipe and are colored light green without, veined with purplish red within.
There is often a lighter scattering of flowers over much of the year. Our material
should be hardy to 10oF. or less.