Virginia snakeroot
Aristolochia serpentaria
USDA zones5 to 9
SunHandles partial sun or full shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size18 to 24 inches tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Yellow , purple
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria) is a perennial for shade gardens, woodland settings, and rock gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and dry to moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Yellow and purple flowers appear in mid to late spring and again in early to late summer. It is not a favorite of deer, though hungry deer will eat almost anything. Bees, butterflies, and birds visit the plant.
Pairs well with Lady fern, Green and gold, and Aureola Japanese forest grass.
Native range
AL, AR, CT, DC, and 24 more places. See all 28
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, and WV.