Aristolochia gigantea (Brazilian Dutchman's pipe)

Japanese name: アリストロキア ギガンテア
Scientific name: Aristolochia gigantea

[Overview]
An evergreen climbing woody plant.
The vine becomes woody at the base and reaches 10 m in length.
The leaves are simple and alternate, 5–15 cm long, broadly heart-shaped about 10 cm wide, with entire margins, pointed tips and a thin texture.
The petioles are about 4–6 cm long.
It flowers all year round if the temperature is sufficient.
The flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils and have no petals; the calyx spreads widely to 60 cm long and 30 cm wide, and is deeply split into two at the lower part.
The inside of the calyx has a reddish brown ground with a white net-like pattern and a surface covered with short hairs, and the upper side of the throat is dark purple.
The calyx tube is pale green, and pollination takes place by temporarily trapping insects such as flies.
The buds are balloon-shaped.
The fruit is a cylindrical capsule 10 cm long and 3 cm wide, which splits open when ripe.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers heat and humidity, and must be kept at 10 °C or higher to overwinter.
It prefers sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
During the growing period from spring to autumn, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries so that it never runs short of water; keep it on the dry side in winter.
From spring to autumn, place slow-release chemical fertilizer on the soil.
Pests include aphids, spider mites and scale insects.

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