Dutchmans Pipe produces an eye catching and exotic flower that also attracts butterflies. The flowers grow quite large and the vine has luxuriously dense foliage with heart shaped leaves. Dutchmans Pipe is very easy to grow and makes a great conversation piece. Dutchman's Pipe is the host plant to the Polydamas Swallowtail caterpillar.
How to care for Dutchmans Pipe
Light. Grows in full sun. In hot, exposed spots it also does well with morning sun and light afternoon shade.
Water. Water once or twice a week while it is actively growing, and less in winter. It needs well-drained soil.
Soil and feeding. Any well-drained soil works. Feed with a balanced fertilizer monthly during the growing season.
Size. A fast, twining vine that climbs 10–15 ft or more on a trellis or fence.
Pruning. Prune as needed to keep it in bounds. Remove seed pods before they split, since the winged seeds spread on the wind.
Problems to watch. It escapes gardens: wild populations now grow in central and south Florida and can smother native plants. Seedlings are easiest to pull while small.
Good to know. All parts are highly toxic if eaten, including to dogs, so keep children and pets away. The flowers smell like rotting meat to attract fly pollinators.
Sources: UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Aristolochia elegans (A. littoralis), Calico flower · Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Plant Care Information: Calico Flower · Royal Horticultural Society: Aristolochia littoralis
