I love my Dutchman's pipe!

comments (10) June 12th, 2009 in blogs

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

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I planted Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla, syn. A. durior, Zones 5-8) on my pergola maybe 6 years ago, having seen it on some arbors in Saratoga Springs, New York, the summer before, as well as on old homesteads in Virginia in my childhood. It’s a beefy perennial vine with large, overlapping, heart-shaped leaves. It’s going gangbusters for me, though I probably should have done some early training to avoid the tangled mess the woody vines have become.

In spring and early summer, the vine blooms with intriguingly odd flowers that obviously account for the plant’s name. There are tons of them, but they don’t jump out at you right away, since they’re tucked in amongst the foliage and aren’t a flashy color. But they’re cool! The only downside is that when they fall from the vines onto my stone patio, they tend to look like the corpses of slugs...

Why aren’t we using this vine more in our gardens? While I’ve always thought of it as a traditional southern vine (it’s native to the S.E. United States), it’s quite happy in my Zone 5-6ish garden, and is doing fine with just afternoon sun. It’s massive when mature, but not aggressive. It’s a steady, reliable woody vine that’ll shade you all summer without any fuss. What more could you ask for? Give it a try!

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Comments (10)

jangoodwin writes: I'm growing Dutchman's Pipe in the Pacific NW, zone 9. Local nurseries are growing it again, due to revived interest. I have 4 vines, all planted in containers. Two are a variety that produces a red flower. All are doing well, with over a foot of growth since planting in early June. I read conflicting info about planting in sun or shade, so I have them in both places. Moved the full sun plants after a week, due to some burning to a more protected area that still gets 6 hours of full sun daily. In my south facing garden, this plant prefers the partial sun location. Also seems to be quite the butterfly magnet. No blooms yet, but do have many pods coming on.

If your local nursery does not have, try Logees, or Google for a site. I saw several varieties available on line from Florida growers. Posted: 9:00 am on June 30th

Daylily1940 writes: When I was growing up in the Adirondacks of New York State (zone 3) there was a Dutchman Pipe vine on our porch. It was there when my parents bought the house in 1945. Our father cut it down several times to make repairs to the porch and it grew back bigger and better than ever! If you want a vine that provides shade this is the one to get. I have a friend who has it climbing over her pergola shaded patio and loves it. As for longevity...as I said it was there when my parents bought the house and when they left nearly twenty years later it was still flourishing. Posted: 10:51 pm on June 29th

brtova writes:

I live in western North Carolina where a wild plant called "Smokevine" grows. It's leaves look a lot like this and the vines twist over and around themselves like your picture. The stems are very popular for basket handles. I just looked it up and I think it is dutchman's pipe. Next time I see one in the woods I am going to keep an eye out for its wonderful flower! Posted: 8:10 pm on June 29th

Conon1 writes: I have liked the look of this unusual vine since I saw it in the Missouri Botanical Gardens a few years ( www.mobot.org ).I have asked for it in dozens of nurseries since then, but have been unsucessful in finding it for sale. Most garden center employees have told me that they use to carry it but stopped due to it not being a big seller?? This year I ordered seeds from an web company and received them about a month ago and planted several of the seeds last week. I have at least two locations in my yard that I am going to plant them. The cultivar that I bought is perennial.

Conon, 6b Posted: 5:35 pm on June 29th

bunnyrabbit writes: Will it grow in zone 8-9 Ca?We love unusual and beutiful plants especially vines.There is a grand oak in our back yard ,who might like the company. Posted: 4:28 pm on June 29th

pgraham writes: cool I love to see the native plants used in gardens, for we have so many plants in the united states. I plant nothing but natives. Thanks for sharing this.
Pamela Graham Posted: 11:48 am on June 18th

iPlayinDirt writes: Prides Corner Nurseries in Connecticut grows this, I believe in a 5 gallon staked pot. They are wholesale only-but I am sure they could find a local retailer for you if your in the Northeast.

Posted: 9:28 am on June 16th

EMURetiree writes: I have Dutchman's Pipe as well...it is at least 15 years old and spread over an area of about 40 ft total. It travels over three 8 ft sections of trellis-work, three arches....and just gets more beautiful each year. It is happiest in the area shaded by an oak....and it's really the most beautiful in the shade. It does get more pipes in the sun, however.
About ten years ago we cut it completely back in the early spring to replace the trellis-work and it came back stronger than ever.
I have had many, many people ask me what it is, and where it came from. I got it from a nursery now closed that was in Plymouth, MI...Goode's Nursery that specialized in tissue culture of hostas. I have two hostas from their work that never became known nursery plants but I cherish them because they are unique....one is "Water Pitcher Gourd" because the flowers are shaped just like the gourd of that name.
Sorry to ramble!!
I might add, my Dutchman's Pipe has many shoots that come up as far as 10 ft away from the original base of the plant.
Posted: 5:40 pm on June 15th

mgervais writes: I haven't noticed any seeds, but if I did I'd send some to you! In the meantime, here are some links to mailorder nurseries that offer it:

http://www.arrowheadalpines.com/vines.htm

http://www.gardenvines.com/shop/other-species-9/aristolochia-macrophylla-28.html

http://www.diggingdog.com/pages2/treesvines.php

http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=537

http://www.goodwincreekgardens.com/

http://www.sunlightgardens.com/lists/search_results.html

Posted: 10:25 am on June 15th

GardenGirl09 writes: I have ben trying to find this plant at any nursery, I am having no luck , Do they seed and if so would you part with a couple of seeds ?
Best Regards
Cher Posted: 7:12 am on June 14th

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