Ampelopsis

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At-A-Glance Information

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Ampelopsis Species and Varietals

The genus Aristolochia includes over 500 species, and is the type species member of the plant family Aristolochiaceae.  Birthwort growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Ampelopsis glandulosa (Wild Grape)
Variety Ampelopsis glandulosa brevipedunculata (pictured) is a choice selection,

Aristolochia baetica (Andalusian Dutchman's Pipe, Pipe Vine)
Native to North Africa and the southern Iberian Peninsula, this species produces long reddish-brown tubular flowers on an evergreen vine.

Aristolochia bracteolata (Worm Killer)
This unpleasant-smelling prostrate vine with greyish-green leaves is found on riverbanks, in bushlands, and within desert grasslands in its native range from northern Africa over through India. 

Aristolochia californica (California Dutchman's Pipe, California Pipevine)
This deciduous vine grows best in zones 5-10 and 14-24, and is native to the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada Foothills of Northern California. It can cover an 8x10 screen or fence with a little training, or send out climbers 10-15 feet long onto nearby shrubs or trees (these vines do not harm other plants), and can also make a small-scale groundcover. Flowers bloom before leaf-out in winter or early spring. Flowers are reddish-purple and cream and have an unpleasant scent. Leaves are bright green and heart-shaped. Not picky about soil, but does best in partial shade (full sun if in a coastal garden).

Aristolochia cauliflora
Native to Ecuador and Peru, this species grows in wet tropical climates, and produces dark green leaves with white veining. 

Aristolochia chilensis (Fox Ears)
This native of Chile is known locally as 'Oreja de Zorro', and is a perennial vine that produces yellow to brown-purple flowers with white hairs on their interior surfaces. 

Aristolochia clematitis (European Birthwort)
Native to Europe, this species of Birthwort produces small pale yellow tubular flowers. Leaves are true green and heart-shaped.

Aristolochia contorta (Northern Pipevine, Birthwort, Bunge)
These vines are native to forests, fields, and mountains in Japan, Korea, and China. They have heart-shaped leaves and produce small yellow flowers in springtime.

Aristolochia didyma (Yawar Panga)
This species is native to South America, and is has powerful emetic properties, used as a purgative in the days before an Ayahuasca session.

Aristolochia fimbriata
This species produces interesting pipe-shaped flowers with throats that are white on the exterior and red with yellow to cream veining at the mouths. Hairs emanate from the outer lips of the flowers.

Aristolochia gibertii
This species is native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, and produces cream colored, elongated flowers with dark reddish-purple veining and a separated pipe mouth. 

Aristolochia gigantea (Brazilian Dutchman's Pipe, Giant Pelican Flower, Giant Pipevine)
This ornamental vine is native to Brazil and has very fragrant flowers. This is a warm-weather loving species and cannot tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Flowers are red to deep maroon and have yellow veining, and the vine reaches 3-6 feet wide and 15-20 feet long at maturity.

Aristolochia grandiflora (Pelican Flower)
These plants produce flowers that emit a fragrance similar to rotting meat in order to attract their main pollinators, flies. Pelican Flower is native to the Caribbean and Central America, and produces one of the world's largest flowers.

Artistolochia indica (Garudakkodi, Eswaramooli, Sapsada)
This vine loves to climb trees in its native range of Southern India and Sri Lanka. It has thick foliage, and is commonly found on forest floor or rocky hillsides. Flowers in this species are much smaller than in others, and they are light yellow to cream-colored with deep red mouths.

Aristolochia labiata (Mottled Dutchman's Pipe, Rooster Flower)
This Brazilian native vining plant produces impressively large, mottled flowers in white/cream and dark red to maroon. These plants can reach between 4 and 8 feet tall, and have light green, glossy foliage.

Aristolochia lindneri
Native to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, this species of Dutchman's Pipe produces long, slender flowers with wide red lips that have yellow veining. Leaves are somewhat leathery, light green, and smaller than they are in other species.

Aristolochia littoralis (Calico Flower, Elegant Dutchman's Pipe)
This climbing vine reaches just under 15 feet in length, and has slender, bright green stems. Leaves are green and glossy, and flowers are deep red with white to cream veining. Prefers acidic to neutral soil pH (between 5.5 and 7.0) and is hardy to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

​Aristolochia macrophylla (Aristolochia durior) (Dutchman's Pipe)
This deciduous vine grows best in zones 2-24, and is short-lived in warm-winter areas. Native to the eastern United States, this vine is easily grown from seed. Leaves are deep green, and the vine is fast growing; it will cover a 15x20 foot area in just one season. Flowers bloom in late spring and early summer, and are yellowish-green. Can grow in full sun or heavy shade, and needs average to good soil and ample water. Protect from strong winds. 

Aristolochia maxima (Florida Dutchman's Pipe, Canastilla, Guaco, Tecolotillo)
This woody vine species is native to Central and South America, and has naturalized itself in Florida. It grows naturally in hammocks, or tree stands that are living in an unnatural ecosystem. Flowers are brownish purple.

Aristolochia paecilantha (Party-Colored Birthwort)
This perennial woody vine has triangular limbs and stems, and produces bright yellow to light yellow-cream flowers with deep red to black-purple markings. These vines are native to Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Aristolochia pistolochia (Aristolochia paucinervis)
Native to southwestern Europe, this vining plant produces thick, light green leaves with ruffled to scalloped margins and dark red to brown flowers that are much smaller than those of many other Aristolochia species.

Aristolochia pontica
Native to Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, and the Republic of Georgia, this species of woody vining plants produces glossy green, heart-shaped leaves and small white to mauve-purple flowers. 

Aristolochia ringens 
Native to Panama, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela, this species has rounded heart-shaped green leaves, thin vining stems and produces brownish-purple and cream to white flowers. 

Aristolochia rotunda (Smearwort, Round-Leaved Birthwort)
Native to Southern Europe, this species of vine produces unbranched stems of foliage and yellow-green flowers with maroon-brown mouths and throat interiors. Flowers bloom from April through June. Leaves are rounded, and flowers are situated at the base of leaves on the vine.

Aristolochia tomentosa (Isotrema tomentosa, Isotrema tomentosum) (Wooly Dutchman's Pipe, Common Dutchman's Pipe)
This species is grown as an ornamental, valued as much for its foliage as anything else. Flowers are small, light yellow to cream-colored, and have deep red to maroon throats. Leaves are large and deep green, and are great at covering trellises or walls. 

​Aristolochia tricaudata
This species of Aristolochia is native to the Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico. These vines produce deep green leaves and scentless flowers that have three long tails that dangle beneath the flower opening. Blooms are deep red.

Aristolochia watsonii (Watson's Dutchman's Pipe, Southwestern Pipevine, Indian Root, Snakeroot)
This species of Aristolochia is native to Arizona through western Texas, where it prefers to live in mountain ranges between 2,000 to 4,500 feet in elevation. These are tough plants to find, and have smaller, arrow-shaped leaves that are maroon with lighter green veining. Flowers are small and maroon to brown.

Aristolochia westlandii
This species produces a woody, vining plant with green leaves and large flowers that are white to cream-colored with purple, red, or maroon veining. These plants are native to China and Hong Kong. 

Caring for aristolochia

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Aristolochia vines are commonly used as ornamentals. They provide great shelter from sun and precipitation when grown on trellises and arbors.
Nepenthes aristolochioides, a critically endangered plant that has pitcher flowers which resemble those of Dutchman's Pipe plants.
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 168, Aristolochia
Is It A Fungus? Is It A Forb? No, It's A Tree!
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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