Description
Akebia – Chocolate vine
There are about 5 species of deciduous or semi evergreen twinning climbers. Akebia is native to the edges of forest in Eastern Asia. Grown for their foliage and flowers. There mid green, 3-7 palmate leaves are bronze tinted when young. In spring slightly fragrant reddish purple to brown racemes of self-sterile shallowly cup shaped flowers appear. Female flowers are larger and deeper colored. After flowers edible sausage shape fleshly blue purple fruits appear. To ensure cross-pollination grow 2 plants from the same species not of the same clone.
Train up a tree or on terllis. Akebia may become invasive grow in moist but well drained fertile soil or humus rich in sun or partial shade. Prune after flowering remove tangled stems every 3-4 years.
Prone to twig dieback.
Akebia pentaphylla – This is a cross between Akebia quinate and Akebia trifoliate it is a semi evergreen twinning climber that’s native to Japan and can reach 30’ feet tall. It bears rounded 3” long leaves, divided into 3-5 egg shape to oval sometimes shallowly lobed mid green leaflets that takes on purple tinged in winter. In early spring fragrant purple flowers appear in pendent racemes 5” long and are followed by 4” long fruits.
Zones 5-8
