Plant Min Zone: 10b
Plant Max Zone: 11b
Sunlight: Full Sun, Part Sun
Water / Rainfall: Average, High
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Late Summer, Fall
Flower Color: Maroon, Yellow, Green, Multi-Colored
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green, Light Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green, Light Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green, Light Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Low
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Medium
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low, Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: No Extreme Soils
Height: 6' - 10'
Width: 3' - 6'
Growth Rate: Fast, Extremely Fast
Service Life: N.A.
Maintenance Need: N.A.
Spreading Potential: N.A.
Yearly Trimming Tips: N.A.
Plant Grouping Size: N.A.
Best Side of House: N.A.
Extreme Planting Locations: N.A.
Ornamental Features: N.A.
Special Landscape Uses: N.A.
Possible Pest Problems: N.A.
Plant Limitations: N.A.
Giant Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia gigantea) is a rapid growing annual vine capable of growing 15-20' in one summer! Native to tropical rainforests of Central America, it can fill a large trellis or arbor with bright green foliage by mid-summer. It thrives when planted in May by taking advantage of early summer rains, heat and humidity. It needs typical garden soil and regular moisture enjoying the summer rains, heat and humidity. In Eastern Kansas, typically our 40 inches of rainfall is sufficient without much extra water in good soils. The large flowers are bazaar and one-of-a-kind: see pictures and save a long-winded confusing description! If growing as a potted patio plant and trying to overwinter, do not allow the pot with rootball to freeze solid or go below 32 degrees for more than a few hours; move into a bright window over the winter with less watering. Allow to go partially dormant as needed with little care, just cut off dead foliage and place back out in Mid-May with a time-release fertilizer. A word of caution, Aristolochia vines native to the U.S. are considered to be hosts for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly larvae, tropical vines such as this species have toxic leaves which are in reality a threat to this butterfly. Pipevine swallowtails lay their eggs on the foliage of genus plants, the eggs will hatch, and the tiny larvae will begin to crawl around the plants, voraciously eating the leaves, but the larvae typically die after about three days because the leaves of A. gigantean are simply too toxic.