Family

Aristolochiaceae

Description

Brazilian Dutchman’s pipe is a tropical climbing vine prized for its massive, heart-shaped leaves and striking, maroon-purple flowers that resemble an ornate pipe or inflated pitcher. These unusual blossoms emit a strong, sometimes unpleasant scent that attracts fly pollinators—part of the plant’s deceptive pollination strategy. Though not cold-hardy, it is frequently grown as an ornamental in containers or greenhouses for its dramatic floral display.

Native to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, Aristolochia gigantea thrives in warm, humid environments and prefers rich, moist, well-drained soils with partial shade. It can be trained along trellises or pergolas, where its lush growth and oversized flowers provide a bold, tropical effect. While visually stunning, it is not a suitable larval host for North American pipevine swallowtails, unlike some of its native relatives.

Bloom Time

June to October