Dutchman's pipe

• Fast-growing vine.
• Stems are woody, slender, twine tightly in coils around any supporting structure.
• Leaves are alternate, glossy-green, heart-shaped or broadly triangular, up to 75mm long.
• Leaves grow closely to form dense mat of foliage.
• Flowers are striking, reddish-purple, marked with white and yellow, shaped like traditional Dutchman's pipe up to 10cm wide, 7.5cm long.
• Fruits are capsule-shaped, 6 ribs, split open along these ribs to release seeds
• Seeds are numerous, brown, 6–7mm long.

• Popular in gardens and suburban backyards.
• Prefers moist, fertile soils.
• Prime invader of rainforest.

• Common in coastal districts of Southern and Central Queensland, scattered in coastal areas of Northern Queensland.

• Flowers and sets seed mainly in summer.

Environmental

• Invades rainforest habitat.
• Resembles natural food plants of butterflies but poisons larvae when they feed.
• Threatens survival of rare birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia).

• Spread by seed and dumping of garden waste.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Physical control

• Remove manually.
• Pull or dig out small plants, ensuring crowns and roots are removed.
• Cut down vigorous growth with brush hook or similar tool, preferably before seeds set.
• Trace vines to main crown and cut with knife well below this growing point.
• Remove all parts of plant from soil.

Herbicide control

• Herbicides can be effective.

Read the Dutchman's pipe fact sheet (PDF, 4.6MB) for herbicide control and application rates.

Biological control

• No know biological control agents.

• Dutchman's pipe is a restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit.
• The Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants and animals under their control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• At a local level, each local government agency must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants and animals in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on certain species. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local council for more information.