10 Seeds Aristolochia Clematitis European Birthwort Asarabacca
This perennial grows to about 3 feet high and has beautiful heart shaped leaves. This is a host plant for many of the swallowtail butterflies including Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena, Spanish Festoon Zerynthia rumina, Eastern Festoon Allancastria cerisyi, False Apollo Archon apollinus, Dragon Swallowtail Sericinus montelaand, and the Troidini which is a tribe of swallowtail butterflies that numbers about 135 different species. This plant was ingested by women during childbirth to help with contractions because the shape of the flowers reminded people of a fetus. Using a plant for what it reminds you of is not good sound medicine. Please do not use this plant for medicinal purposes. It is poisonous and cancer causing to humans, but it makes the butterflies toxic to birds and other predators. Other butterflies try to look like members of the Troidini tribe just so that other animals will leave them alone. USDA Hardiness Zones 6 to 9.