California Pipevine (Aristolochia californica) blooms in late winter and early spring. Photo by queerbychoice.Pipevines are a genus of over 500 species in the pipevine family (Aristolochiaceae).
California Pipevine (Aristolochia californica) is a woody vine that is native to all of Woodland and to virtually all of Yolo County except for the Capay Valley. It can grow to 20-foot long. It prefers partial shade and slow drainage. It grows only in dry areas. California Pipevine has "perfect" flowers (containing both male and female parts). It is ranked 3 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it is fairly unlikely to cause hay fever. Its flowers have a musty odor that attracts carrion-feeding insects, which crawl into the pipe-shaped flowers and have to struggle to get back out again. In the process, they become covered in pollen. These insects thereby pollenate the flowers.
