Question: Hi, I bought a house with a crazy vine plant that the previous owner grew into a tree on a …
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Question
Hi, I bought a house with a crazy vine plant that the previous owner grew into a tree on a metal frame. Problem is the previous owners were deceased and i don't know what kind it is and how to care/maintain it. It's has to be 40-50 plus years old. Now my second problem is some kind of bug is killing it now as well. Here are some pictures of it in full bloom, after winter and a close up of the middle and the bug damage. I live in Ontario, Canada.
Answer
Dear Med, you have photographed a species of Isotrema (historically included in the genus Aristolochia). These go by the common name Dutchman's-pipe. You likely have either Isotrema macrophylla (which has the young stems and leaf underside devoid of hairs or with non-dense, very short hairs) or Isotrema tomentosa (with the young stems and leaf undersides with dense, woolly hairs). Best wishes.
