Semi-hardy 10 seed Aristolochia ringens "Gaping Dutchman's pipe"

ARISTOLOCHIA RINGENS

10 SEED

"GAPING DUTCHMAN'S PIPE"

EVERGREEN VINE

The tops will be killed to the ground in freezing weather but usually return in the spring. Aristolochia ringens likes to grow in a light and airy place, but not in direct sunlight.

The plant can endure short periods of drought and still look fresh.

From spring to summer, the vine produces quantities of 12 cm long fragrant flowers scattered among the drooping leaves. The flowers trap insect pollinators and facilitate cross pollination. Highly entertaining flowers; a vigorous grower, the outrageous blooms are patterned with a network of burgundy, red, and purple over a creamy-yellow background. The fruit is a capsule, green maturing to brown and opening to release many fertile seeds. Prune back shoots after flowering.

Aristolochia ringens is a vine with beautiful dark green heart shaped leaves and paler underneath. These are about 8 cm long by 5 cm wide and grow closely together to create a dense mass of foliage. These slender woody stems twine gracefully in tight coils around fence wire and other supports lifting itself to heights of 2 to 10 meters. Stems age to woody.