Akebia quinata
chocolate vine
Semi-evergreen climber about 10m tall, with rounded dark green leaves, blue-green below, composed of five leaflets and tinted purple in winter. Fragrant reddish-purple flowers, in racemes 12cm long, produced in early spring are sometimes followed by purple sausage-shaped fruits to 10cm in length
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
Wider than 8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Red | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | Purple | ||
| Winter | Green Purple |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Lardizabalaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing
- Genus
Akebia are vigorous twining, semi-evergreen climbing shrubs, with attractive palmate or trifoliate leaves and racemes of cup-shaped purplish female and smaller male flowers, followed by large, sausage-shaped fruits, if cross-pollinated by another clone
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- China, Korea, Japan
How to grow
Cultivation
A climber that thrives with any good garden soil in sun or part shade. Fruit - needs long hot summers to fruit well and two plants of the same species to ensure cross pollination
Propagation
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Climber and wall shrubs
- Wall side borders
- Edible fruit
Pruning
Pruning group 11 after flowering
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)
Get involved
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