Aristolochia macrophylla

Common Names

Dutchman's Pipe, Pipevine

Summary

Aristolochia macrophylla, commonly Dutchman’s pipe, is a native eastern United States woody deciduous climbing vine noted for large heart-shaped leaves that densely cover arbors, trellises, fences, or walls, it grows rapidly to about 15–30 feet in height with a 15–20 feet spread, forming a lush screen, and features pipe-shaped greenish-yellow flowers with brownish-purple interior that sit among the foliage; the plant also serves as the larval host for the pipevine swallowtail butterfly, in cultivation, it prefers moist, well-drained soils and can grow in full sun to partial shade, is hardy in USDA zones 4–8, and can be propagated by seed or cuttings; pruning in late winter or early spring helps manage size, and regular monitoring is advised as it can be invasive in some regions, the vine provides shade and privacy when trained on structures such as arbors, fences, or walls, and all parts are toxic if ingested

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

10-30 feet

Spread

15-20 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade; tolerates Full Shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Green, Purple, Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green, dark green on the upper surface with a pale-silver underside.

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast growing, about 6 feet per year

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies, pollinating flies