Plant ID card |
|
|---|---|
Botanical name |
Akibia quinata. |
Common name |
Five-leaf akebie, chocolate vine. |
Family |
Lardizabalaceae. |
Origin |
Asia (China, Korea, Japan). |
Dimensions |
Up to 10m tall with stems up to 20m long. |
Foliage |
The foliage is semi-evergreen, deciduous below -10°C. The leaves of the five-leaved akebia are clear green, bronze at birth and purple in winter. They are webbed and composed of 3 to 7 oval-shaped leaflets. |
Bloom |
The flowers appear between the months of April and May. They are grouped in hanging clusters with a vanilla scent. They are cup-shaped, with a color varying between purple and brown. |
Fruiting |
In regions with a mild climate, Akebia quinata produces edible fruits in September. They are similar to pickles in cream, pink or purple color. |
Exposure |
Sun, partial shade. |
Ground |
Any type of PH, normal to dry, rich in humus, drained. |
Rusticity |
Down to -20°C. |
Akebia quinata is native to Asia, where it grows spontaneously at the edges of forests in temperate regions. It is therefore a plant that is both rustic and resistant, which can flourish in most French climates.
Akebia quinata
: a hardy and evergreen climbing plant
The five-leaved akebia is a so-called “voluble” climber, whose stems wrap around a support. Its
rapid growth
allows it to quickly reach 10 m in length! Be careful, it can sometimes become invasive.
The foliage of the five-leaved akebia is considered
semi-evergreen
, in the sense that it is evergreen in regions with a mild climate, and becomes deciduous when temperatures drop below -10°C.
Akebia quinata
is however
hardy down to -20°C
.
Akebia quinata
is a very decorative plant, both for its foliage and its
flowering.
Its flowers, original to say the least, are shaped like a calyx, made up of three rounded sepals. Their tone oscillates between purple and brown, hence the nickname “chocolate creeper” given to this plant.
The different varieties of five-leaf akebia
There are 5 species of Akebia, including
Akebia quinata
which is divided into different varieties:
Akebia quinata 'Alba'
is appreciated for its pink and cream-toned flowers
Akebia quinata 'Variegata'
has variegated yellow and white foliage
Akebia quinata 'rosea'
produces very fragrant pink flowers
What soil and exposure for a five-leaf akebie?
The chocolate vine appreciates
rich, fresh and well-drained soils
, without PH preference. It flourishes in
sun or partial shade
, ideally with a western exposure.
The chocolate vine appreciates rich, fresh and well-drained soils, with no PH preference. It flourishes in sun or partial shade, ideally with a western exposure. Copyright (c) 2022 SyomaBarva/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
How to take cuttings from an Akebia?
Akebia quinata
can be taken by taking semi-woody cuttings
in late summer
. Once the roots have developed, place the cuttings in pots and plant them the following fall.
When and how to prune
Akebia qiuinata
?
To prevent your chocolate vine from becoming invasive, consider
pruning it just after flowering
, between May and June, taking care not to prune it too harshly.
Why is my Akebia not flowering?
A five-leaf akebia that is not flowering is probably
lacking sunlight
. If this is your case, try transplanting it in the fall to give it a sunnier exposure.
s semi-woody cuttings in late summer
. Once the roots have developed, place the cuttings in pots and plant them the following fall.
The fruits of Akebia quinata can be eaten cooked, for example in jam. Copyright (c) 2023 Thao Lan/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
How to eat Akebia quinata
fruits
?
Similar to large gherkins, the fruits of the chocolate vine are edible. Quite tasteless,
it is better to eat them cooked
, in the form of jam for example.