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Calico flower is an evergreen vine with very unusual flowers and beautiful heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are rich glossy green, about 3 inches long by 2 inches wide and grow closely, creating a dense mass of foilage. Slender woody stems twine gracefully in tight coils around fence wire and other supports to lift the vine to heights of 10 or 12 feet. In summer the vine produces quantities of 3" flowers scattered among the drooping leaves. The flowers are light green and covered with purple brown spots on the flared lips of the blossom in a pattern reminiscent of calico fabric. Because of their unique shape they are sometimes called dutchman's pipe because they resemble an old fashioned smoking device (recall Sherlock Holme's pipe).
A. elegans, calico flower, is native to South America, with Brazil being its home territory.
Requires only average soil to look good. Does well in light sandy soils as well.
Light: Part sun to shade.
Moisture: Average moisture. Will endure short periods of drought and still look fresh.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 - 10. In zone 8 the tops will be killed to the ground in freezing weather but will return in the spring.
Propagation: By layers and by seed.
