Aristolochia Elegans

The "Calico flower" is a tender evergreen vine with most intriguing flowers and beautiful bright green heart shaped leaves which grow closely together to create a dense mass of foliage. In summer the vine produces quantities of 3 inch greenish-white flowers which have a s-curved tubular shape, flared at the mouth, resembling a 19th century Dutchman's pipe. The inside of the mouth is covered with a purplish-brown pattern reminiscent of calico fabric hence its name. Winged seeds are borne in dry capsules that split like small parachutes. In the wild these plants are important food sources for several species of butterflies. (Syn. A. littoralis. (RHS AWARD winner)