Description
Kadsura –
There are 22 species of woody, twinning, evergreen climbers in this genus. They occur from forest in eastern and southeastern Asia. They are grown for their red fleshy fruits and attractive, simple, glossy leaves, arranged alternately. It bears solitary, scented, cup shaped flowers held in the leaf axils, both male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, therefore both male and female are required to obtain fruit. K. japonica, the only species usually grown is best grown in a sheltered position where it can be trained against a wall or pillar, or through a large shrub.
Grow in humus rich, fertile, moist but well drained neutral to acidic soil in full sun or partial shade.
Kadsura japonica ‘Variegata’ – This vigorous, evergreen climber from China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan reaches heights of 10’ feet tall. From twinning shoots it carries elliptic to oval shaped, slightly toothed, glossy, dark green leaves that are broadly edged with creamy yellow and tinged pink, becoming creamy white in winter, to 4” long. From summer to autumn it bears small, lightly perfumed, solitary, cup shaped cream flowers, to ¾” across, followed on female plants by bright red berry like fruits, 1 ¼” across. Does best in semi shade.
Zones 7-9
