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Aristolochia macrophylla

Also Known As

Aristolochia durior
Aristolochia sipho
Broadleafed Birthwort
Dutchman's Pipe

Plant type

vine

size

H: 15'-30'
W: 15'-20'

planting zones

4a-9b

More Options

Aristolochia macrophylla plant details

Aristolochia macrophylla is a fast-growing broadleaf deciduous vine with green foliage. In spring and summer chocolate, cream, green and pink flowers emerge. Attracts butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and pollution tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Aristolochia macrophylla

Plant type: vine
Plant family: aristolochiaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 15 FT - 20 FT - wide, 15 FT - 30 FT - tall
Flowers: chocolate, cream, green and pink blooms in spring and summer
Uses: heart-shaped leaves, trellis, unique

GROWING CONDITIONS for Aristolochia macrophylla

USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: heat, humidity and pollution
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This super hardy and vigorous deciduous vine is useful for adorning porches, pergolas and arbors. Heart-shaped green leaves provide dense shade, and curious small dutchman pipe flowers, born in June, are somewhat obscured by the dense foliage and provide food for butterflies. Vines grow 20-30' in length.

By: Avant Gardens

Native to the eastern U.S., this vigorous, 30' vine will create a thick green screen in short order, covering a good strong trellis or wall. Heart-shaped leaves overlap for good cover and meerschaum pipe-like yellow to mahogany flowers intrigue. Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies nectar on it and the leaves provide food for the caterpillars. Minimum temperature: -30°F

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

I've always thought of this vigorous vine as an old-fashioned plant because I've mostly seen it growing around the porches of old brick farmhouses in small rural towns in southern Ontario, probably because it quickly creates a thick screen of large, rich green, heart-shaped leaves. It also has a peculiar but interesting green and purple flower shaped like a small pipe that offers an unusual, but not offensive, fragrance. Full sun to part shade in moist, well drained soil.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

A classic Appalachian native vine for shading porches, we have it on a big silver maple and it is reaching for the canopy. It is quite a sight when in flower and even better when you can look up and see dozens of Pipevine caterpillars clinging to the underside of the leaves, true they prefer A. clematis but macrophylla has the advantage of extra biomass, eliminating the defoliation problem. Our colony of Philenor now seems permanent.

By: Arrowhead Alpines

Lg. heart-shaped leaves can form a dense summer screen while the odd "dutchman's pipe" flowers add a touch of delight to spring; fast-growing native vine to 30'. PSh-Sh/Med/lime

By: Forestfarm

A classic vine for creating deep shade from summer sun. Huge leaves are the feature, but tiny pipe-shaped flowers can be found blooming in the tangle of stems giving rise to the common name.

By: Brushwood Nursery

Grown primarily for it beautiful, heart-shaped, HUGE dark green leaves, 6-10" wide but it does also have small, 2" Mahogany & cream blooms (like a Meerschaum pipe) in late spring. Withstands urban pollution, is rarely bothered by diseases or insects and creates a dense shade. Rapid growth once established so it needs a strong support.