Aristolochia gigantea – Brazilian Dutchman’s Pipe – Aristolochiaceae (The Birthwort Family)

Description Aristolochia gigantea, is the Brazilian Dutchman’s pipe or pelican flower, a tender, fast-growing, woody evergreen, twining climber that produces the most unusually large flowers that look like more Avatar than Earth. The flowers open in early summer with each flower having a face up to 12 inches across coloured reddish burgundy with intricate white veining. The flower has a central yellow tunnel that exudes a fragrance only a fly would love luring pollinators into the interior through one-way hairs that allow entrance but not exit. There the flies deliver any pollen that they may have brought with them from previous visits to other flowers and get covered in fresh pollen to take with them with the hairs relax and the flies can exit back the way they came. The vines are clothed in light green, heart-shaped leaves up to six inches long. They can grow up to 15-20 feet high but can also be kept smaller in a pot with a trellis. Requires medium moisture, moderately fertile, well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. May be pruned in late winter to early spring. Overwinter in a frost-free location or as a houseplant.