Question
Can you tell me if Dutchman's Pipe could be grown about 100 miles north of NYC?  Would it be a good choice for climbing on my daughter's old swing set.  I thought the supports might be a good trellis in this dry, sunny spot.  Are there any other vines you might recommend.  Is there any particular plant source you would recommend for vines? Thanks so much, John

Answer
Hi John,
Thanx for your question.  There is a species of Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia durior) which is hardy to zone 5.  It is a great vine but the flowers are small, yellow and insignificant.  The great looking Dutchman's Pipes we usually see are of a tropical nature and not hardy in your area.  Morning glories are a great choice but are annuals, but they come in some great colors.  For a perennial vine, if you want to have it twine on a swing set you might want to try a trumpet vine or honeysuckle.  These are very vigorous vines that bloom profusely.  I hope this helps.
Tom