Serpent Birthwort Aristolochia serpentaria
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aristolochia convolvulacea
- Aristolochia hastata
- Aristolochia nashii
- Aristolochia serpentaria var. hastata
- Aristolochia serpentaria var. nashii
- Endodeca serpentaria
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-ris-toh-LOH-kee-uh ser-pen-TAIR-ee-uh
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Virginia snakeroot is an herbaceous perennial in the pipevine family (Aristolochiaceae) (Birthwort) native to the eastern and central USA, where it grows in dry to moist forests. The genus name is a compound of two Greek words: aristos, meaning "best," and locheia, meaning "childbirth." This references the flower bud's resemblance to a human fetus. The specific epithet means “snake.”
It prefers well-drained, moist, humus-rich loam, clay loam or sandy loam soils in partial shade to shade. Virginia snakeroot spreads by rhizomes. It can be propagated by seed or division of the rhizome.
It may grow to 1 or 2 feet spreading along the ground. Unlike many of its pipevine kin, Virginia snakeroot is not a climber. There is variation in the size, shape, texture and indument of the leaves, and these morphs have been given names, but nowadays most botanists recognize only one, highly variable species. The flowers resemble those of wooly pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) and pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla) but are smaller in size. Larvae of pipevine wwallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor) will feed on this plant and defoliate it, but more than one plant is needed for a caterpillar to complete its lifecycle.
Use this plant as a ground cover in a shade or woodland garden. It also is a good addition to a shady pollinator garden, native plant garden or even a shady rock garden.
Insect, Disease, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease/insect problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aristolochia
- Species:
- serpentaria
- Family:
- Aristolochiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used by Native Americans for snake bites. Used in herbal medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern USA
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by flesh flies, fungus gnats, and possibly carrion beetles searching out nectar. The caterpillars of a butterfly, the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), feed on the foliage of Virginia snakeroot, although more than one plant is required to complete their development. Because the foliage and roots are toxic and unpleasant-tasting, mammalian herbivores do not feed on this plant. Pipevine Swallowtail larvae appear in late spring and summer in the east. It most commonly appears in the south and southwest regions in late summer through fall. Adult Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies also feed solely on flower nectar from other plants like azaleas, thistles, verbena, lupines, and lilacs.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer damage, shade, wet soil, dry soil, loamy soil, fire in landscape
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This plant produces a 1/2-inch six-valved capsule that contains many seeds. Displays from June to July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2- to -3/4-inch small hairy purple-brown flowers that bloom from May to June at the base of the plant on small scaly stalks. They are pitcher-shaped flowers found close to the ground, lying on the ground or under leaf litter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Papery
- Rough
- Smooth
- Velvety
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate leaves are 2 to 5" long and ½ to 2" across. They are narrowly cordate, ovate-sagittate, or narrowly hastate with a pair of rounded basal lobes. Margins are entire. There is variation in hairiness.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- Green zig-zag stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
