Giant pipevine is an evergreen, tropical, woody vine in the pipevine family (Aristolochiaceae). It is native to the humid forests of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, and portions of Brazil. The genus name is a compound of two Greek words: aristos , meaning "best," and locheia , meaning "childbirth." This references the flower bud's resemblance to a human fetus. The species epithet means “giant” and refers to the size of the flower. This plant is winter hardy in USDA Zones 10-12. It will not survive temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The vine prefers full sun but appreciates partial shade in very hot climates. The soil needs to be moist and well-drained. Pruning should be done in the late winter or early spring. It needs the support of a trellis or other structure. It can be grown as a greenhouse or conservatory subject. The vine is propagated by seeds. The flowers are large, velvety, burgundy-colored with ivory-white veining. The blooms can measure up to 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. The light green leaves are heart-shaped. The fruits are papery capsules containing more than 20 seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Flies pollinate the flowers because they are attracted to their strong scent. This tropical vine's leaves are toxic and pose a threat to the pipevine swallowtail butterfly. The larvae of the butterfly will eat the "giant" leaves and die within 3 days. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Fragrant; Long-lasting
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The foliage is light green with heart-shaped leaves about 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. The leaf margins are entire. There are whitish hairs noted on the undersides of the leaves.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
The large bloom is velvety reddish-purple with ivory-colored veins. It measures 12 to 24 inches long and 6 inches to 1 foot across. The flower is shaped in the form of a pouch and resembles a Dutchman's Pipe. They have no petals; the colorful structure we see is the calyx. In their native territory, they bloom from summer to winter. They are pollinated primarily by flies. The flies are attracted to their strong unpleasant odor.
Bloom time
Summer; Winter
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruits are oblong capsules that are green and become brown as they mature. They measure about 5 inches long and 1.5-2 inches wide. The capsule becomes papery as the fruit matures. The capsule splits open to release many seeds to the wind. The seeds are flat, rounded, or winged and usually ripen in the late summer.
Bark detail
The mature is cork-like and deeply grooved on mature vines.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Central America and Brazil
Distribution
Native: Northeast Brazil, South Brazil, Southeast Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama
Wildlife value
Flies are attracted to the flowers and aid in pollination. Most plants in this genus attract the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. Unfortunately, this tropical vine's leaves are too toxic. The larvae of the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly will die from eating the foliage within 3 days.
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Toxic to humans
Uses (ethnobotany)
In the past, a European species was used medicinally for pain or infections related to childbirth.