Aristolochias add a tropical twist
Many of the tropical plants you see growing in botanical greenhouses are beyond the reach of most Bay Area gardeners. One wonderful exception is Aristolochia, commonly called Dutchman's pipe. Hailing from a variety of moist woodlands in North and South America, aristolochias are vining climbers, ranging in size from the modest A. fimbriata to monstrous species such as A. littoralis (A. elegans) or A. gigantea, which will reach heights of 25-30 feet. Most have kidney-to heart-shaped green leaves, which serve as a lush backdrop to the unusual flowers. And with Dutchman's pipes, it's definitely the flowers that draw collectors and curiosity seekers to these plants.
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