This vigorously growing native vine ply welcome shade for arbors or pergolas .
A vigorous vine with big , marrow - shape leave , Dutchman ’s pipework quick turns arbors and pergolas into shaded retreats from which to escape the heat of summer . Plant Dutchman ’s pipework at the base of a treillage where it will twine up and make a dense canopy of foliage that provides lots of refinement .
The vine is aboriginal to southeastern Canada and the easterly United States . The vine ’s dense , overlap leave-taking offer up an important food source for the Caterpillar of pipevine swallowtail butterflies ( black with iridescent blue scaling ) , and the fragrant flower in former summer put up nectar for the grownup butterfly .

Dutchman ’s organ pipe is toxic to humans and pets .
Where to Plant Dutchman’s Pipe
Plant Dutchman ’s pipework in a location with full sun or partial shade that is sheltered from unattackable breaking wind . check that to keep a good aloofness to your dwelling house , as the vine is extremely flammable . The soil in the planting position should be well - drained and consistently moist , with a pH in the somewhat acidulent to slightly alkaline range of a function . A location in a moist wooded arena or near a watercourse is ideal .
Site this fast - growing vine at the base of a sturdy climb structure like awell - anchored treillage , apergola , or even a range of mountains - connection fence . Dutchman ’s piping will ramble over , through , and around nearly any type of construction , lay down it an first-class plant for cover an unsightly view . The overlap cloak of leafage shape a dense , beautiful blind .
How and When to Plant Dutchman’s Pipe
Nurseries often trade bare - root Dutchman ’s pipe in time for springtime gardening . Plant it after the last spring hoar in your area . Dig a golf hole at least twice the size of the root spread and cryptical enough to fit the roots without bending . Place the crown ( where the trunk meets the roots ) in the hole so it sits slightly above soil stage . Backfill the hole and gently tamp down the ground around the floor . Water it immediately and keep it well - watered at all time .
Because Dutchman ’s pipe is such a vigorous grower , a single specimen is usually enough to fill a blank space . If you have a large area , such as a long fence , space plants 12 to 20 feet apart .
Dutchman’s Pipe Care Tips
With the exception of yearly pruning to keep its increase under ascendance , this vine requires only minimal fear .
Light
The vine does well both infull sunand fond shade .
Soil and Water
Although the vine is unfussy in its growing conditions , rich , moist , well - drained soil is a must . It will do ill in dry dirt so verify to plant it in a location where the soil is naturally moist , or water as needed in the absence of rainwater . Asoil pHin the range of 6.0 to 8.0 is best .
Temperature and Humidity
Dutchman ’s pipe outlive over a wide range of temperatures , from subzero winters to hot summer . It is not known to be intolerant of high humidity .
Fertilizer
If you implant the vine in the recommended organically full-bodied grunge , no fertilization is needed . Over - feed the plant , even accidentally from lawn fertilizer overspill , can conduce to unreasonable development .
Pruning
Because it grows up to 6 feet a year , Dutchman ’s pipe benefit from annual pruning to keep it under control . Prune flora in the former winter or early spring . Removing unaccented or damaged stems at their cornerstone . Cut back excessively long stem by half or more to maintain the desired size .
Potting and Repotting Dutchman’s Pipe
Due to its considerable size , the vine is not worthy to be grown in containers .
Pests and Problems
Dutchman ’s pipe is not affect by serious disease or blighter . However , the gamy flammability of the flora can be problematic . check that to plant it at a safe length from your place and other buildings . As beguiling as it is to plant a Dutchman ’s tobacco pipe near a porch for tad , it is not recommended due to the fire peril .
How to Propagate Dutchman’s Pipe
The easiest way to propagate Dutchman ’s pipe is fromsoftwood cuttings . In the spring or summer , take a 4 - in cutting off from a healthy stem that shows some novel emergence . take away all the bottom leave so there are only a couple of leaves at the top . Dip the cut final stage in rooting hormone powder and insert it about halfway into a pot filled with damp potting soil . order it in a fond location away from direct sunlight and keep it equally moist . When new growth appear and the stem does not wiggle when you gently tug on it , it has rootle . Let the newspaper clipping turn into a strong trivial plant before transplanting it into the landscape painting .
Types of Dutchman’s Pipe
Wooly Dutchman’s Pipe
Aristolochia tomentosais a variety of Dutchman ’s tobacco pipe with hairy stem and leaf . Its develop condition are similar to those of Dutchman ’s pipe but as a native plant to the key and southern United States , it is more or less less hardy . geographical zone 5 - 8
White-Veined Hardy Dutchman’s Pipe
Unlike other Dutchman ’s pipework type , Aristolochia fimbriatais a recurrent ground cover , not a vine . Itgrows 6 to 12 column inch in tallness and propagate 2 to 3 foot . The mettle - shape green leaves have a silvery veining . The plant is aboriginal to Bolivia , Brazil , and Argentina . obstinate to its name , it is not as hardy as other Dutchman ’s pipe specie . Zone 7 - 9
Virginia Dutchman’s Pipe
Aristolochia serpentariais another Dutchman ’s pipe groundcover , though this one is native to the United States . It grows in full to partial tint where it circularize by rhizomes up to 2 feet wide . geographical zone 5 - 9
Frequently Asked Questions
The mahogany - ointment - colored bloom of the plant resemble the meerschaum smoking pipage that were stylish in Europe in the 18thand 19thcentury . The flowers are hide , hidden below the impenetrable foliage of the vine .
No , this coinage of Dutchman ’s pipe is native to Brazil . Aristolochia giganteaonly grow in a warm , humid climate ( Zone 10 - 11 ) . The large flowers have an unpleasant smell but that ’s not the only drawback of this works — it is toxic to the pipevine swallowtail butterfly . When the larva of this aboriginal butterfly eat up the leave , they die within a few days .
update by Nadia Hassani
Aristolochia macrophylla . North Carolina State University Extension Toolbox .