Description
Dutchman's pipe is a perennial climber with dark green stems and lush growth, reaching up to 10 m. Its main ornament is its exceptionally large heart-shaped leaves – up to 30 cm long – which overlap to form a dense green wall. In autumn the leaves turn yellow. In May and June unusual pipe-shaped flowers speckled with purple-brown appear on the plant, usually hidden under the leaves.
Requirements
Dutchman's pipe copes well with urban conditions.
Care
It grows best in fertile, fresh, moist soil in partial shade (do not plant it in sunny spots). In summer water it twice a week. It is suitable for planting by fences, arbours, pergolas, trellises, poles and other garden supports – it needs strong supports. Planted near tall trees, it densely entwines their trunks.
Dutchman's pipe is frost-hardy, but before winter it is good to earth up the base of the stem to a height of 25–30 cm or cover it with leaves or conifer needles.