Aristolochia

Family. Aristolochiaceae.

Where does it grow? Southeast and south-central United States, usually grows along streams and in moist forests.

Description. The genus "Aristolochia" contains about 120 species from the tropics and subtropics, most of which are woody vines or herbaceous perennials with cordate leaves. This slender perennial climbing plant deserves the closest attention, it has very unusual flowers and beautiful bright green leaves 7 cm long and 5 cm wide, located close to each other, creating a dense green mass. The leaf blade is linear-oblong, obovate-oblong, sharply or gradually tapering towards the tip.

The shoots gracefully curl around the supports, raising themselves to a height of 3 - 4 m. In some species, the leaves, young stems and flowers are tomentose. In summer the vine produces large flowers about 7 cm in diameter, arranged in small axillary inflorescences scattered among the leaves. The flowers are greenish-white, burgundy-purple with white dots, yellow, curved, tubular in shape, which resembles a smoking pipe, usually hidden by foliage. 

The inside of the flower is covered with a purple-brown pattern, reminiscent of a pattern on chintz fabric. The buds open at dawn and emit an unpleasant odor that attracts pollinators, mainly flies and hornets. The main species is striking in its rare stench, but the cultivated varieties have no odor. The flowers close at dusk; in tropical aristolochia they are huge; in South America, children wore them as hats.

After flowering, ribbed, tubular oblong or spherical-oblong seed capsules (up to 7 cm long) are formed, which, when ripe in September, acquire a grayish-brown hue.

 Height. Creeping plant up to 20 m long. 

Aristolochia - planting and care

Reproduction

Grows well from seeds. By cuttings.

How to care

Attach the plant to a support, a frame, which will soon be hidden under long shoots.

Conditions - temperature

Place the aristolochia in a warm place (greenhouse, winter garden). 

Flowering time

May June.

How to transplant aristolochia 

As they grow, young kirkazons are planted in fresh soil annually, in the spring.

Lighting

Direct sun with some shade on a hot summer day, can grow in partial shade. 

Soil

Prefers light sandy soils, sometimes even poor ones, with good drainage.

Fertilizer

Fertilize weekly in summer. 

Spraying

There are no special requirements, spray periodically if the air in the room is very dry.

Watering

Watering is of medium intensity, without drying out the earthen coma. Water with soft water and keep it almost completely dry in winter. 

Diseases and pests 

There are no serious insect or disease problems with proper care.  Insect pests most often appear due to errors in care, this can be spider mites or aphids.

Purpose

Forms large thickets of luxurious, dense, very attractive foliage. Looks great in hanging baskets. 

Note

Beautiful foliage, unusual flowers, resistance to pests and ease of growing make this plant one of our favorite vines. The flowers contain alkaloids, making the vines highly toxic - keep them away from animals and children. Aristolochia is used in folk medicine, for example, in China, but recent research by scientists has shown that the plant has a negative effect on the urinary system.

Varieties:

Aristolochia manshuriensis

A large vine with thin shoots and soft, light green, heart-shaped leaves. The leaf blades have sparse white pubescence. Flowers appear in summer in the axils of leaves, singly or in pairs. Distributed in Korea, China and Eastern Siberia. 

Aristolochia clematis

    Unlike its relatives, it is not a liana and has an erect stem 70 - 90 cm high. Common kirkazon blooms in June - July, the flowers are light green and small. 

Aristolochia macrophylla

A species often used in landscape design. Quickly and easily weaves around any supports - trellises, gazebos and fences. The large leaves of this plant form a dense wall - shelter from the sun's rays.