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Climber Wall Shrub

Akebia quinata 'Amethyst Glow'

chocolate vine 'Amethyst Glow'

Semi-evergreen climber about 10m tall, with rounded dark green leaves, blue-green below, composed of five leaflets and tinted purple in winter. Fragrant purple female flowers, and paler pinkish male flowers in racemes 12cm long, produced in early spring are sometimes followed by purple sausage-shaped fruits to 10cm in length

Synonyms
Akebia quinata 'Amethyst'
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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Purple Pink Green
Summer Green Purple
Autumn Green
Winter Green Purple
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Lardizabalaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
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

Accepted

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

Propagate by softwood cuttings or layering

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)

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