Dutchman’s Pipe

Dutchman’s Pipe Aristolochia macrophylla (Aristolochia durior) Open shade to sun; moderately wet to medium moisture level; best in deep,fertile loam but tolerates moderately coarse gravelly or sandy loams to moderately fine silt loams; slightly acid to neutral pH. 6-30 feet height (depending on support) by 4-10 feet width; blooms late spring into summer; chocolate brown flowers with a yellow tube; fruit is a pod-like capsule. Growth Rate:  Grows at a medium rate after transplanting and then fast and rank growing, from 4 to 6 feet in one year.   If given the appropriate trellis or other support, it is capable of covering the structure in a single growing season. Maintenance:  Easy.  Infrequent susceptibility to diseases and insects.  Cut back to the thicker stems in late winter to control growth and reduce the mass of tangled stems. Propagation:  Seed germination code C(90) at 40 degrees or sow outdoors in fall.  Grows well from seed.  Moderately difficult from cuttings. Native Region:  Eastern half of the state Deciduous vine that climbs by twinning.  Best supported with wire cable or fencing.  Has large, heart-shaped, overlapping leaves 6-15 inches across that tend to hide the inconspicuous flowers. Good plant for providing a privacy screen. Will grow in considerable shade but growth will be thinner and plant more likely to develop root suckers.  Important larval food source for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly; otherwise has very low wildlife value. vine;sun;wet;loam vine;sun;wet;sand vine;sun;wet;rocky vine;sun;medium;loam vine;sun;medium;sand vine;sun;medium;rocky vine;sun/shade;wet;loam vine;sun/shade;wet;sand vine;sun/shde;wet;rocky vine;sun/shade;medium;loam vine;sun/shade;medium;sand vine;sun/shade;medium;rocky vine;shade;wet;loam vine;shade;wet;sand vine;shade;wet;rocky vine;shade;medium;loam vine;shade;medium;sand vine;shade;medium;rocky

Photo Courtesy of Kris Light, East Tennessee Wildflowers, http://www.easttennesseewildflowers.com/ Photo Courtesy of the University of Tennessee Dept of Plant Sciences, Woody Plant Identification http://utgardens.tennessee.edu Photo Courtesy of http://www.wikipedia.org/