Dutchman's Pipe Aristolochia macrophylla purple-green

Plant Aristolochia macrophylla (Dutchman's Pipe) full or part shade. It will thrive best in a well-drained soil with only partial sun. Full sun is ok but it will of course then need more watering. It will soon feel at home wherever you plant it and to be honest, grows well anywhere.
The flowers on this vine are pretty but their scent is not always found to be particularly delilcate. We do advise not planting it next to the veranda or other seating.
Ensure a well drenched root ball of your Aristolochia macrophylla - soak your climbing Dutchman's Pipe overnight in a bucket of lukewarm water.
Prepare a wide hole and loosen the soil with a fork. Plant your Dutchman's Pipe at the correct depth - the top of the root ball should come to just below soil level. Fill up with soil, heel well in and water immediately.
Dutchman's Pipe is pretty undemanding and will thrive in most normal soils. If planting right next to the wall, do understand that the soil there is usually the poorest so a little improvement with some well-rotted manure will be appreciated. Allowing your Dutchman's Pipe to climb Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) will not attach itself to start with and the shoots will go all over the place. A fast grower, it is perfect for covering an ugly fence or wall but Dutchman's Pipe will also grace a pergola, or even a suitable tree.
Best is, tie it up on its own to a sturdy climbing frame, pergola or wall.

Aristolochia macrophylla is very undemanding, requiring little maintenance. Do give it some extra waterings in periods of drought.
Young vines need tying up to a good climbing frame or pergola. Once it is established it will manage fine on its own with its winding little shoots. This plant is unrivalled in its ability to cover a gable end completely - such a lovely sight too! Pruning your Dutchman's Pipe Pruning is not strictly necessary but all those tangled twigs of your Dutchman's Pipe can cope with the smallest being cut hard back every year in March.
Once it's at the height/breadth you want it, you can top it off too. Pruning will be well tolerated and Dutchman's Pipe will soon grow new shoots.

The Dutchman's Pipe vine originated in the South East of the United States of America. It is a sturdy and fast climber and if the plant is in a good spot it can grow 2 metres per year and reach 9 metres high! Dutchman's Pipe is also known as the Pipe Vine.
The large, pale green, heart-shaped leaves are left well alone by most pests and diseases so stay looking pretty for a long time!
The pipe-shaped flowers are partly hidden, hanging behind the large leaves. They are followed by a cucumber-shaped fruit of 10-12 cm in length.