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Heavy, rough-textured, stem-twining vines – one species hardy in the North – with curiously shaped flowers that justify their descriptive popular names. Each has its own individual decorative value and cultural idiosyncracies.

Aristolochia durior (macrophylla, sipho) – Familiar Dutchman’s pipe. A favorite for shading porches and pergolas, up to northern Maine. In spring, the second year after planting, mahogany pipe-flowers appear with the large heart-shaped leaves. Foliage makes a neatly overlapped, dense shade or screen. The vine grows to twenty or thirty feet tall in fertile soil, will adapt to sun or semisun, is improved by rather severe pruning, and will tolerate city growing conditions.

Good-sized plants are widely available. Or propagate by layering new growth in spring, or by root cuttings in fall. Stem cuttings may be difficult.

Aristolochia elegans – calico flower – Tender perennial, more delicate and graceful, with kidney-shaped leaves. In warm climates or the large greenhouse it can grow to great lengths, but can also be kept down to a reasonable size, and will flower when small, on new wood. The flowers are great, fantastic, mustard-green pouches spotted and lined with brown-purple, appearing in late spring and summer.

Give this vine full sun in spring, filtered shade in summer; high humidity; and moist, porous soil. Keep it on the dry side in winter. In spring, prune back old growth moderately, repot or top-dress with fresh soil, and train new growth on a suitable support.

The plant grows easily from seeds, and will flower like an annual, in the summer after an early-spring sowing. Or root stem cuttings of mature wood in warmth and humidity.

Aristolochia grandiflora – pelican flower – Has been accused of possessing the worst plant odor ever. It is not hardy in the North. The variety sturtevante bears flowers up to twenty inches in diameter, with slinky tails to three feet long.

Aristolochia tomentosa – rooster flower – Native to Southeastern states, can climb to thirty feet. The flowers are two inches long.

Family: Aristolochiaceae