Dutchman's Pipe

Aristolochia
A genus of attractive vines and perennials famous for attracting Pipevine Swallowtail Butterflies.

Aristolochia californica ( California Dutchman's Pipe )
A vigorous, large deciduous vine, reaching up to 50 feet, that is native to forests of northern and central California.
The large, heart-shaped leaves are glossy mid-green.
The abundant, hanging, reddish-brown and green flowers, up to 1.5 inches in length, are borne during early spring.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 in partial shade on deep, fertile soil. It is drought tolerant once established.

* photo taken by Jean Pawek @ CalPhotos

Aristolochia clematitis ( Birthwort )
A perennial, reaching up to 2.5 x 2 feet, that is native to Europe.
The leaves are heart-shaped.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun to partial shade.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Aristolochia gigantea


* photos taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

Aristolochia littoralis ( Calico Flower )
A fast growing vine, reaching up to 15 feet, that is a widespread native of tropical and subtropical South America. It has invasive potential in Florida. It can grow up to 8 feet during a single season if cut back to ground.
The cordate leaves, up to 3.5 x 4 inches in size, are bright green.
The flowers, up to 3 inches long are borne singly from the leaf axils.
Hardy zones 10 to 12 ( 9 as perennial ) in partial to full shade on moist, neutral to acidic, well drained soil.

* photos of unknown internet source

Aristolochia macrophylla ( Dutchmans Pipe )
Also called Aristolochia durior. A deciduous vine, reaching up to 80 ( rarely over 30 ) feet in height, that is native to stream banks, floodplains and rich woodlands in the eastern U.S. ( from central Kentucky to central New York to Long Island; south to northern Alabama to northern Georgia. It is not found in the wild south of New Jersey on the Piedmont or Coastal Plain. It is endangered in the wild in Maryland, also naturalized in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The majority of its natural range is found in the Appalachian Mountains or their western foothills
This vine is a source of food for the larvae of the Pipe Vine Swallowtail butterfly.
The large, heart-shaped leaves, up to 12 x 12 inches in size, are deep green, turning to yellowish-green during autumn.
The purplish flowers are borne late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, well drained soil. In trials at Indian Head, Saskatchewan and Brandon, Manitoba; it dies back to the ground each winter but is fully root hardy. It is resistant to insect pests and disease. It is very adaptable.

* photos taken on July 25 2015 @ Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

* photo taken on Apr 10 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 22 2021 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken by Mark A. Garland @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* historic archive photo

* photo taken on July 9 2022 in Bayfield, ON

* photos taken on Aug 16 2024 in Bayfield, ON

Aristolochia serpentaria ( Virginia Snakeroot )
A perennial, reaching up to 20 inches in height, that is native to rich upland woods in the eastern U.S. ( from eastern Iowa to southern Michigan to Albany, New York to Connecticut; south to central Texas to central Florida ). It was sporadic along the Ohio shore during the 1800s. It is a host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. It is endangered in Michigan.
The ovate leaves are up to 5 x 2 inches in size. The foliage is mid-green above, bright green beneath.
The deep purple flowers, up to 0.7 inches in length, appear late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in partial shade on moist, humus-rich soil.

* photos taken by Doug Goldman @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Aristolochia tomentosa ( Woolly Dutchman's Pipe )
A deciduous vine, reaching a maximum height of 40 feet, that is native to eastern North America ( from eastern Kansas to central Indiana to North Carolina; south to eastern Texas to northwest Florida to South Carolina ). It does not occur in the wild in the Appalachian Mountains where Aristolochia macrophylla mostly occurs.
Similar to Aristolochia macrophylla except that it is fuzzy.
It also flowers more profusely than A. macrophylla.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database