Dutchman’s Pipe by annkelliott
TheGardenLady received this question M’Lourdes.
I would very much like to know the name of a delicate climber I was given [photo above]. Can you please help me identify this climber?
This plant has three common names, calico flower, pipe vine or Dutchman’s Pipe Vine.The Latin Family name of this plant is Aristolochia. There are over 500 species in this family. See here. Most of them seem to have the common name Dutchman’s Pipe Vine.
Since you did not mention where you live or your temperature zone you have either Aristolochia (elegans) littoralis (The Latin species name seems to have also changed.) Or you have Aristolochia durior.
Aristolochia littoralis grows as a perennial in zones 8-10. Aristolochia durior is a perennial in zones 4 to 8. To see some of the many Aristolochia you can buy them here. Â (There is another Aristolochia that is also called Dutchman’s pipe or Wooly Dutchman’s pipe that will grow in temperature zones 5 to 8. It is Aristolochia tomentosa but its flower is different from the photos you sent. See here. )
These pretty vines are not too well known and are really quite exotic looking. They seem fairly easy to raise so long as you have the one that grows in your temperature zone. They don’t seem to have many pests or diseases and if you have Aristolochia durior, they attract and support the pipevine swallowtail butterfly. See here.
Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly by †David Gunter