Read everything worth knowing about the climbing plant with the heart-shaped leaves in the pipe bindweed profile. Lots of tips on purchasing sources, winter hardiness, planting and care to read.
What is the pipe bindweed and how to care for it?
The pipe bindweed (Aristolochia macrophylla) is a herbaceous climbing plant characterized by its heart-shaped leaves and pipe-shaped flowers. It is suitable as greenery for facades and privacy screens and is usually hardy. Easy to care for, thrives in sunny to shady locations and prefers fresh, nutrient-rich soil.
Profile
- Scientific name: Aristolochia macrophylla
- Genus: Pipe flowers (Aristolochia)
- Synonyms: American Pipe Bindweed, Large-leaved Pipe Bindweed
- Growth type: herbaceous climbing plant
- Growth: left-winding creeper
- Growth height: 6 m to 10 m
- Leaf: heart-shaped
- Flower: pipe-shaped
- Fruit: elongated capsule
- Toxicity: poisonous
- Winter hardiness: hardy
- Use: facade greening, privacy screen
Winter hardiness
Whether a morning glory is hardy or sensitive to frost is closely related to its origin and growth. The rule of thumb applies: deciduous Aristolochia are hardy, evergreen, tropical species are sensitive to frost. The following table provides an overview:
| Whiskey Bindweed deciduous/hardy | Botanical name | Whipped bindweed evergreen/not hardy | Botanical name |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Pipe Bindweed | Aristolochia macrophylla | Giant-leaved Pipe Bindweed | Aristolochia gigantea |
| Small-leaved Pipe Bindweed | Aristolochia tomentosa | Ghost Plant | Aristolochia elegans |
| Manchurian Pipe Bindweed | Aristolochia manshuriensis | Pelican Flower | Aristolochia littoralis |
A frost-hardy pipe bindweed copes with the winter with the special growth strategy of a liana. The climbing plant does not become woody, but climbs up trellises with left-winding shoots to a height of a whopping 20 meters. After the first frost, the heart-shaped leaves shrivel and fall off. Next spring a new robe of leaves sprouts and growth continues to dizzying heights.
Leaf
Ornamental leaves make the pipe bindweed a popular climbing plant in Germany for greening facades, downpipes, pergolas and trellises. These features characterize the sheet:
- Leaf shape: heart-shaped, stalked
- Size: 7 cm to 34 cm long, 10 cm to 35 cm wide
- Color: rich green to dark green
- Autumn color: yellowish
- Arrangement: alternate, roof tile-like and therefore opaque
Video: Pipe bindweed leaves viewed up close
Bloom
The German plant name refers to the decorative flower shape. The following overview summarizes the important attributes of a pipe bindweed flower:
- Flower shape: Curved in a U-shape, similar to a tobacco pipe.
- Size: 3 to 8 cm long with 3 to 7 cm long stem
- Flower color: yellowish-green with purple-brown lip
- Flower Ecology: Kettle Trap Bloom
- Special feature: foul smell of carrion as an attractant for insects
Before you green a pergola or house wall with pipe vines, we recommend giving the flowers a test sniff.
Poisonous
The pipe bindweed is poisonous in all parts. Roots, leaves, flowers and seeds contain aristolochic acids in varying concentrations. The toxins are considered, among other things, to be harmful to the kidneys. Intentional or unintentional consumption can cause nausea, vomiting and circulatory collapse. However, the danger is very low. There are no known cases of poisoning with pipe bindweed.
By far the most poisonous pipe flower is not a climbing plant. Aristolochia clematitis has been known as a medicinal plant since ancient times. The common pipe flower or Easter luzei grows as an upright, herbaceous perennial with yellow tubular flowers that smell hideous. Scientists classify the ingredients of this native forest shrub as carcinogenic with a high potential for poisoning.
Excursus
Aristolochia macrophylla or Aristolochia tomentosa?
Local site conditions determine which is the better climbing plant with heart-shaped leaves. Aristolochia macrophylla is a sun worshipper with exorbitant water requirements and is primarily suitable for greening pergolas. Aristolochia tomentosa also thrives in partial shade or shady locations. As a climbing plant for north, east, west and south facades, this pipe bindweed is the better choice.
Planting pipe bindweed
You can buy a pipe winch from specialist retailers. However, purchasing sources are few and far between and the purchase prices are quite high. Hobby gardeners with green fingers propagate the decorative climbing plant for free planting. The following sections explain all the important details in a compact and comprehensible manner:
Propagate
There are various approaches available for propagating Aristolochia:
- Cut cuttings from May to September and let them root in the nursery pot.
- Place cuttings on the ground as a sinker and let them root in a 5-10 cm deep groove, similar to grape vines.
- Sowing seeds after stratification for 8 weeks in the refrigerator; rapid germination at a germination temperature of 20° to 25° Celsius in a bright window seat.
The seeds of evergreen pipe vines germinate without any prior cold stimulus because these climbing plants are not hardy anyway.
Location
In this location the pipe bindweed shows its optimal climbing plant potential:
- American pipe bindweed: full sun to partial shade and sheltered from the wind
- Small-leaved pipe bindweed: sunny to shady
- Soil: fresh to moist, nutrient-rich, calcareous, preferably in permeable clay soil
The list of unsuitable locations is short. Only in windy locations with waterlogged, acidic, compacted or desert-dry soil does a pipe bindweed fall short of expectations.
Plants
If planted correctly, the pipe bindweed can grow very old. Experts attest that the creeper has a life expectancy of up to 100 years. Reason enough to take a look at these planting tips:
- The best planting time is in spring and autumn.
- Before planting, place the potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles appear.
- Enrich the excavation of the planting pit by a third with compost and horn shavings.
- Plant pipe bindweed with a slight inclination to aid climbing.
- Observe planting distance from 100 cm to 150 cm.
- Form a wall out of soil as a watering ring and slurry in the planting site.
Pipe vines prefer vertical trellises with spacings of around 30 centimeters. Horizontal struts do not green the climbing plants on their own. In this case, simply tie the shoots.
Maintaining pipe bindweed
A pipe bindweed is very easy to care for. The most important care measure is a good water supply. An occasional pruning ensures neat, opaque growth. How to properly care for the American Pipe Flower:
Pouring
Large-leaved pipe vines have a high water requirement. The plants evaporate a lot of moisture via the path of the impressive heart leaves. To prevent the mighty climbing plants from drying out, water twice a day with normal water on warm summer days.
Fertilize
Organic starter fertilization in April stimulates the growth of the creeper. Distribute 3 liters of compost soil and 100 grams of horn shavings on the root disc. Work the fertilizer in superficially and water again.
Cutting
A targeted pruning directs the growth of a pipe bindweed in the desired direction. Pull out the pruning shears when the shoots entwine around objects that you don't want them to cover. At what time of year you cut a pipe flower is your horticultural decision. A thinning cut in March makes sense every three years. Cut off dead vines for light-filled, opaque growth. If necessary, a rejuvenation cut of up to 20 centimeters is possible in late winter.
Care in winter
Light winter protection is advisable in the year of planting. Cover the root slice with a thick layer of leaves and brushwood. Well-rooted pipe vines are hardy without any special precautions. Water supply continues at reduced levels in winter. In clear frost with bright sunshine and frosty temperatures, the climbing plants are threatened by drought stress. Watering sparingly on mild days compensates for winter water shortages.
Popular varieties
The range of varieties in Germany is limited to tropical pipe vines for the winter garden:
- Harlequin Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia anguicida): South American, evergreen pipe bindweed, purple flowers, height up to 3 m.
- Andalusian pipe bindweed (Aristolochia baetica): dark purple, curved tubular flowers, beautiful in a pot with a trellis, not hardy.
- Pipe Vine (Aristolochia arcuata): tropical, evergreen climbing plant for the winter garden with green-yellow, purple-white flowers.
FAQ
Is morning glory poisonous to cats?
Yes, morning glory contains poisonous aristolochic acids. These plant substances can cause mutations in cell tissue. A carcinogenic effect has been found in animal models. However, there are no known cases of poisoning in cats or other pets.
Are evergreen pipe vines hardy?
As a rule, evergreen pipe vines come from tropical regions and are not hardy. The hallmark of a frost-resistant pipe flower is its deciduous growth. The best in class from the genus Aristolochia is the American pipe bindweed, also known as large-leaved pipe bindweed. The small-leaved pipe bindweed (Aristolochia tomentosa) is useful as a hardy container plant. New on the market is the deciduous Manchurian pipe bindweed (Aristolochia manshuriensis) with a winter hardiness down to -35° Celsius.
Can you plant the pipe bindweed in a pot as a privacy screen on the balcony?
Keeping pipe vines in a bucket is no problem. Use a pot with at least 30 liter capacity and an opening in the bottom. A suitable substrate is peat-free pot plant soil with coconut soil as a peat substitute for best permeability. To ensure that the climbing plant grows opaquely, tie the shoots to the horizontal struts of the trellis. The pipe winch climbs vertically under its own power.
Is it possible to green a fence with pipe vines?
You can certainly add greenery to a fence with pipe vines. The vigorous climbing plant climbs up every conceivable trellis. However, in windy locations there is a risk that parts of the tendrils will break off. Furthermore, there is no privacy screen in winter because hardy pipe vines shed their leaves.
When can you plant a pipe bindweed?
The time window for planting is open from autumn to spring. The best time is from September to October. The climbing plant roots in sun-warmed soil in good time before the first frost. You can plant pipe vines until April as long as the soil is not frozen. We recommend the months of April and May for planting in pots, preferably after the Ice Saints in hardy locations.
