Aristolochia californica
California pipe vine
(c) naturalist charlie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Aristolochiaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Aristolochia californica (California pipe vine) is a native California vine in the Aristolochiaceae family, recognized by Only Aristolochia in CA and only representative of Aristolochiaceae family - distinctive pipe-shaped flowers and winged capsules unlike….
California pipe vine is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and northern South Coast Ranges in streamsides, forests, and chaparral at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces pale brown to green flowers with a musty fragrance, featuring a distinctive U-shaped tube 2 to 4 centimeters long lined with thick yellow to red tissue and purple veins. Growing with soft-hairy twining stems less than 5 meters long, it forms a flexible climbing structure. Its deciduous leaves are large and striking, with ovate-cordate to sagittate blades measuring 3 to 15 centimeters across. The plant produces winged capsule fruits that complete its unique botanical profile.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Aristolochia in CA and only representative of Aristolochiaceae family - distinctive pipe-shaped flowers and winged capsules unlike any other CA plant family
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides, forest, chaparral
Elevation: < 700 m
California counties: Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Lake, Madera, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, Tehama, Alameda, Amador, El Dorado, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, San Mateo, Trinity, Tuolumne, Sacramento, Glenn, Mendocino, Stanislaus, Plumas
Bloom period
Aristolochia californica blooms Jan-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Cercis: Aristolochia is a vine with pipe-shaped flowers; redbud is a tree/shrub with pink pea-like flowers.; vs Lonicera: Aristolochia flowers are U-shaped pipes; honeysuckle flowers are tubular trumpets, often paired.; vs Calystegia: Aristolochia flowers are curved pipes with small openings; morning glory flowers are wide-open funnels.; vs Hedera: Aristolochia has heart-shaped leaves and pipe flowers; ivy has lobed leaves and small greenish flower clusters.; vs Smilax: Aristolochia has pipe-shaped flowers; greenbrier has small round flower clusters and often thorny stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aristolochia californica native to California?
Yes. Aristolochia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Aristolochia californica bloom?
Aristolochia californica blooms Jan-Apr.
Where in California does Aristolochia californica grow?
Aristolochia californica occurs in Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Lake, Madera, Marin, Napa, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of < 700 m.
What plant family does Aristolochia californica belong to?
Aristolochia californica is in the Aristolochiaceae family, genus Aristolochia.
What habitat does Aristolochia californica grow in?
Aristolochia californica grows in Streamsides, forest, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.