Foremost grown for its lush green, large heart-shaped leaves, Dutchman's pipe also bears small, pipe-like flowers in late spring. A heavy, deciduous vine native to the woodlands of the Appalachians in the eastern United States, the flowers are normally well-hidden by the foliage and do not smell of rotting flesh like other members of Aristolochia. The bright green leaves can become as large as a dinner plate. Heart-shaped, thye can become slightly purpled in late summer; their undersides are a lighter green shade. From late spring to early summer, small light yellow flower buds that have a U-shaped crooked neck open to eventually display a dark red flare. These flowers are musky-scented (not of rotty meat) and become purple seed pods weeks later.
It is a fast-growing, heavy vine so ensure it has a sturdy railing, wall or tree upon which to climb. It makes an alluring groundcover, too. It grows easily from seed, and is rather short-lived in areas that have warm, mild winters that only causes partial dormancy. (Info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Genus - Aristolochia
Species - Durior
Common name - Dutchman's Pipe
Pre-Treatment - Not-required, but recommended
Hardiness zones - 5 - 9
Height - 15-35' / 4,50 - 10 m
Plant type - Vine / Climber
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Partial Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Clay, Loam, average drainage
Water requirements - Average water needs. Water regularly, no overwatering
Care level - Easy
Landscape uses - Groundcover, Rock Garden / Wall, Vine
Germination rate - 90%
Bloom season - Late Spring, Early Summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green, Dark Green / Purple, Dark Red, Brown
|Seeds are not required to cold stratify before sowing, but some growers recommends to stratify cold and moist for 30-60 days.
1. Soak the Dutchman's pipe seeds in a bowl full of hot water for 48 hours. Pour one-quarter of a cup of boiling water into three-quarters of a cup cool water to achieve the appropriate temperature for treating the seeds.
2. Sow the Dutchman's pipe seeds in 4-inch pots filled with a mix of 2 parts potting soil and 1 part compost. Lay one seed on the surface of the soil in each pot. Press the seed into the surface of the soil until it is half buried.
3. Mist each pot heavily with a water-filled spray bottle until the top inch is saturated. Water the Dutchman's pipe seeds when the soil feels dry on the surface. Do not let the soil dry out completely during germination since the seeds will be damaged.
4. Place the pots on a greenhouse heat mat beneath a fluorescent lamp. Set the heat mat to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night to mimic the outdoor cycle of warming and cooling. Keep the fluorescent lamp on when the heat mat is set to 85 and turn it off when adjusting the temperature to 68 at night.
5. Watch for germination 30 days after sowing the Dutchman's pipe seeds, but do not be concerned if it takes upwards of 45 days for the seeds to sprout.
6. Move the pots to a greenhouse or a sheltered porch offering warm, bright conditions once the Dutchman's pipe seeds germinate. Continue to water the seedlings regularly to maintain light, even moisture in the top half-inch of soil.
7. Keep the Dutchman's pipe seedlings in their pots until they reach 4 inches in height and have several sets of large, heart-shaped leaves, then plant them in a fertile bed with bright, filtered light and abundant moisture.
Info source: eHow.com