Georgia Wildlife Federation

Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Aristolochia macrophylla

Dutchman’s Pipe has a unique Southern heritage This old-fashioned plant used to be a staple of southern porches, where its twining habit and its large, heart-shaped foliage created ample amounts of shade as country folk sat outdoors talking, playing checkers, or reading the paper.

Perhaps even more intriguing is the plant’s pollination mechanism. The flowers differ in appearance from other native flowers like Ladyslipper Orchids, but the pollination method is exactly the same. Flies are attracted the unusually purplish/brownish S-shaped flowers and often become trapped inside by hairs on the inside of the flower tube. Those insects lucky enough to make it back out of the tube are completely dusted a bright yellow and will carry the pollen to other plants as they forage. Strangely enough, the plant gains no benefits from the trapped flies.

The cherry on top of this lovely plant is definitely the insect life it hosts, as the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly is a magnificent sight to behold in larval or adult form.

Family: Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort)

Description: A tall vine which climbs by twining rather than attaching. Wide heart-shaped leaves appear in the spring. Inconspicuous S-shaped flowers ranging from green to purplish brown appear throughout the summer. The bright green oblong smooth fruit resembles a pipe bowl, drying in the Fall to release a shower of small, flat brown seeds dispersed by the wind.

Size: The vines can be trained to any height and generally grow as tall as they are able to climb; this can range from several feet to several tens of feet.

Habit: Vining

Growth Rate: Fast when established

Light: Full sun is preferred, but also tolerant of partial shade

Planting and Care: Pipevine is tolerant of a wide variety of conditions, including the amount of sun, wind, heat and humidity. It is important to keep the roots moist and cool by mulching plants growing in full sun. Planting the plant near trees alleviates many problems.

Ornamental Value: Notable assets include the wide, heart-shaped leaves, the unusual flowers, the interesting seed pods and the shower of wind-dispersed seeds in the fall. Also a benefit is the beauty of the butterfly species it hosts.

Landscape Use: Very suitable for their historical purpose of shading porches. They are also excellent plants to consider as companions for native trees or trained along trellises, fences, or arbors.

Wildlife Benefits: The greatest potential of this wonderful plant is to attract the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillar is a deep red studded with bright orange spikes. Surprisingly, the butterfly scarcely resembles this color scheme except for the bright orange eye spots on the undersides of its metallic blue-tinged black wings.

Native Habitat: Dutchman’s Pipe is a characteristic plant of southern Appalachian hardwood forest. It typically occurs in rich, moist woods and along stream banks.