CLIMBERS OF CHARACTER

Southland Times, Issue 21607, 20 January 1932, Page 10

CLIMBERS OF CHARACTER

The hardy Aristolochias are perhaps, more beautiful of leaf than of flower, although the latter is not lacking distinctive character or the fascination ever exercised by blossoms of remarkable construction. A Sipho, the Dutchman’s Pipe, is a vigorous grower whose large, dark green leaves overlap each other with striking effect, and it is a plant of singularly handsome presence when well placed on a verandah, pergola, or an isolated pillar or pole. The curiously formed flowers, somewhat reminiscent of a calabash pipe, arc sombrely coloured in yellow and purplish-brown. The twining stem will attain a very considerable height and is of rapid growth. Another hardy, deciduous, and very ornamental species is A. moupinensis, of somewhat recent introduction from China. The lanre heart-shaped leaves are highly ornamental, and a specimen draping a column is of unusually handsome appearance. The yellowish-green blossoms are grotesquely marked with purple. Aristolochias enjoy a rich soil, with plenty of moisture when growing. A. Sipho is of proved hardiness, and although I believe A. moupinensis to be tolerably hardy, it will be wise, until the plant is well proven, to afford it a little winter protection.—Ralph E. Arnold in the Gardeners’ Chronicle. .