Content
Chocolate vine Akebia is a spectacular perennial plant for vertical and ground cover gardening. The culture comes from Northern Japan, but subsequently gained popularity in China, Korea, Australia, America, and Europe. Akebia is remembered not only for the beauty of its flowers and delicious fruits, but also for its amazing chocolate smell, for which it received its second name.
Akebia began to be cultivated in Europe in the mid-19th century.
Description of akebia
The chocolate vine is a member of the Lardizabalaceae family. The perennial grows shoots up to 6 m long. Young branches are smooth, green with a pinkish tint, but as they mature they become lignified and become brownish-purple.
The leaves of the vine are complex; they include three or five segments, depending on the variety of plant.The plates are green with a smooth matte surface, and their reverse side is much lighter. Parts of the leaves are oval-elongated with a pointed tip. The general appearance of the akebia plates resembles an open palm. The lobes reach a length of 5 cm and their width is 3 cm. The leaves are alternately located on the shoots and have long petioles.
In warm climates, the perennial is an evergreen. And when growing akebia in the middle zone or in the Moscow region, its leaves completely fall off, exposing the shoots. Liana is characterized by an accelerated pace of development. Its annual growth is 1-2 m. The plant becomes an adult at four to five years of age, depending on the region of cultivation.
The root system of the chocolate vine is of a rod type. It includes both superficial and deep branches. The depth of penetration of akebia roots into the soil reaches 1 m.
What do akebia fruits look like?
With successful pollination of female flowers, akebia produces fruits, the ripening period of which begins in September-October. Outwardly, they resemble fleshy cucumber gherkins, arched in shape and 5 to 8 cm long. The fruits are fleshy with a slight edge on the surface. Their color when ripe can be purple or lilac with a bluish tint.
The fruits of the chocolate vine are edible. When fully ripe, they open on the side. The peel of the fruit is dense and thick. In some plant species it is smooth and monochromatic, while in others it can be textured and spotted. Inside the akebia fruit there is juicy translucent pulp and small black seeds. The taste is pleasant, reminiscent of a combination of raspberry, lychee, passion fruit and apple.
The fruits do not fall off when ripe
Features of flowering
Akebia's inflorescences form along the entire length of last year's branches. In chocolate vines they are formed from the axils of the leaves. The inflorescences are of drooping type, their size is 8-12 cm. Akebia's buds are bell-shaped. They consist of three wide, rounded petals, the edges of which are slightly concave inward. In the center of the akebia flower there are six thickened stamens, the shade of which varies from pink to chocolate.
This liana is a monoecious plant. It produces both female and male flowers. The former are distinguished by their larger size and rich color of the petals, which can be violet-lilac or red burgundy. In addition to the stamens, the female buds of the chocolate vine also have a pistil. They are collected in smaller inflorescences of 3-4 pieces.
Male akebia flowers are lighter in color, pinkish-lilac. They are collected in large inflorescences, including 5-9 buds. Akebia flowers exude a pleasant, subtle aroma that can be felt in all corners of the garden. The first buds of the chocolate vine open in April-May.
The flowering period of the perennial lasts for 3-4 weeks.
Winter hardiness of akebia
Despite the thermophilic nature of the chocolate vine, it is able to successfully winter in temperate climates. Akebia can withstand temperatures down to -20 °C.
But since it blooms and bears fruit on last year’s branches, when grown in the Moscow region and the middle zone, the stems and roots of the plant need to be insulated for the winter. If the vine freezes regularly, it will not be possible to achieve maximum decorativeness and fruiting from it.
Where does akebia grow?
Now the chocolate vine has spread far beyond its homeland. It gained popularity in China, Korea, Australia, America, and Europe. Akebia is well acclimatized in the southwest of Great Britain.
You can find the plant in mountainous areas, in forests, near streams. Prefers slightly shaded areas and soil rich in organic matter.
The chocolate vine uses tall shrubs and trees as support.
Properties and uses of fruits
The fruits of the chocolate vine are distinguished by their rich chemical composition. They contain many vitamins, minerals, sugar, and crude protein, more than apples, strawberries and pears. Akebia fruits help cleanse the body of toxins and have antioxidant, anticancer and cleansing effects.
The product is characterized by increased nutritional value, but is low in calories. 100 g of fresh akebia fruits contain 6% carbohydrates, 0.23% proteins, 0.21% fats, 34 kcal.
The product is used in cooking, cosmetology and medicine. Due to its excellent taste, akebia fruit is recommended for fresh consumption, salads and various desserts. And the peel of the akebia fruit can be fried. In this form, it is added to fermented sushi and tempura, as well as main courses.
In cosmetology, fruits are included in many skin care products. They help slow down the aging process and even out skin tone.
In medicine, the fruits of akebia are used to treat urinary tract infections and rheumatoid arthritis. And also drugs based on them are recommended for insufficient lactation.
The pulp of akebia fruits is similar in structure and color to kiwi
Main types and varieties
Five species of chocolate vine are found in nature, but only three of them are successfully cultivated - akebia quintuple, trifoliate and long-flowered. They became the basis for the development of new decorative varieties of perennials.
Akebia quinata (Akebia quinata) is the type species of chocolate vine. The length of the lashes of an adult plant reaches 6 m. A peculiarity of this species is the presence of five identical lobes in the leaves. The plates are leathery, with a smooth dark green surface, and their reverse side has a grayish tint. Quintuple akebia forms long clusters of inflorescences consisting of three-petaled buds of a rich lilac-violet color. The flowering period begins in April-May.
Akebia quintuple easily adapts to various soil types
Three-leaf chocolate vine (Akebia trifoliata) is less common than the previous species. The length of the lashes reaches 9 m. Its characteristic feature is leaves consisting of three equal lobes. Young plates have a bronze tint, and later they turn green. The flowers are dark purple. The fruits of this species reach a length of 10-13 cm.
Three-leaf vine is characterized by accelerated growth
Akebia longeracemosa is native to Taiwan. This species has small, compound-fingered green leaves with a matte, smooth surface. A distinctive feature of the vine is its elongated inflorescences up to 15 cm. The species is demanding on lighting.
Akebia longiflora has high natural immunity
Popular varieties of chocolate vine:
- Silver Bells. The length of the shoots reaches 6 meters. The flowers of this variety are two-colored - lilac-silver with a white tint.
The Silver Bells variety blooms for the first time at the age of two
- Rosea. A medium-sized vine with a moderate growth rate. At the end of April or early May, elongated drooping inflorescences consisting of soft pink buds appear on the shoots of the vine.
The Rosea variety is characterized by an intense, pleasant aroma.
- Cream Form. A tall variety, the length of its shoots reaches 8 m. The plant blooms in May. The buds of the vine are cream-colored with a purple-pink core.
The Krim Form variety is able to develop even with increased soil acidity
Planting akebia in open ground
Chocolate vine is able to quickly adapt to a new place if planted taking into account its basic requirements. Therefore, it is worth paying special attention to this procedure.
Selecting a location
In nature, akebia grows under the canopy of trees, as it prefers diffused light. Therefore, you should choose areas in the garden for it, where its lower part of the shoots can remain in the shade, and the tops should be sufficiently illuminated for at least eight hours a day. The liana also prefers places with a slightly moist substrate, but does not respond well to prolonged stagnation of moisture at the roots. The best option for it is the eastern side of the site, where the soil should be loose, nutritious, moisture-absorbing, but not swampy. Moreover, the chocolate vine is able to fully develop in both neutral and slightly acidic soil.
Akebia should be planted in a protected place from drafts. It requires a reliable support that the shoots can wrap around. It can be a gazebo, wall, fence, pergola.
Landing rules
It is recommended to plant chocolate vines in the spring, when the threat of return frosts has passed and the soil has warmed up well. Therefore, the optimal period is the second half of May or the beginning of June. Two weeks before the procedure, it is recommended to prepare a planting hole 50 cm wide and deep, at the bottom of which you need to put a drainage layer of at least 10 cm, and fill the rest of the space with a nutritious soil mixture of turf, sand, peat and humus in equal proportions.
Algorithm of actions when landing:
- Make a slight elevation in the center of the hole. Carefully remove the chocolate vine from the shipping container and place it on it, slightly straightening the roots.
- Sprinkle them with earth and carefully fill the voids, compact the soil at the base of the akebia. Make sure that the root collar of the vine is at soil level. Water the perennial thoroughly. And the next day, mulch the root circle with pine bark, pine litter or peat.
Caring for akebia in open ground
Purple akebia, like other varieties, does not require complex care. Liana is able to fully develop without much participation from the gardener. But in order for it to delight you with flowering and fruit formation every year, you need to follow some rules.
Watering and fertilizing
Chocolate perennial needs regular watering after planting. Irrigation is recommended to be carried out at the root 1-2 times a week. An adult akebia vine needs watering only during prolonged drought. In this case, moistening should be carried out in the evening, pouring 20-30 liters of water under each plant.
It is also recommended that if there is excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil, lay mulch at the base of the akebia, which will also help prevent the roots of the vine from overheating. The perennial responds well to crown irrigation on hot days. Sprinkling helps refresh the foliage of the chocolate plant and wash away a layer of dust.
Exotic culture needs good nutrition. Therefore, starting in spring, it needs to be fertilized once a month. To do this, at the beginning of the growing season, you can use chicken manure 1:15, and after flowering and before fruiting, use mineral mixtures with a high content of phosphorus and potassium.
Plant pruning
It is necessary to trim the chocolate vine only to maintain its decorative appearance. Therefore, it is recommended to periodically remove dry, broken and damaged branches. Akebia reacts poorly to drastic pruning and takes a long time to recover after it. You need to cut off excess shoots gradually, no more than one per season. Otherwise, this may negatively affect the flowering and fruiting of the chocolate vine.
Rest period
In the conditions of the Moscow region and the middle zone, akebia needs shelter for the winter. In the fall, you should remove the vine from its support, lay its shoots on the ground and cover it with spruce branches and then with agrofibre.
Overgrown adult specimens must be sprinkled with soil at the base, compacting it. You also need to sprinkle the root circle of the chocolate vine with compost on top. And if possible, the crown of the akebia should be wrapped in spandex right on the support in several layers and at the same time the material should be well secured with staples so that it does not blow away in the wind.
It is recommended to cover the vine after leaf fall
Diseases and pests
The exotic liana has insecticidal properties. Therefore, pests do not bother her because she repels them. This greatly simplifies caring for the plant.
But akebia can suffer from various leaf spots in rainy, cool summers. Therefore, for preventive purposes, it is recommended to spray akebia with Bordeaux mixture in the spring at the beginning of the growing season, and after flowering with the fungicide Skor.
Methods for propagating akebia
You can get new seedlings of chocolate vine using cuttings, layering and seeds. Each of these methods has its own characteristics.
Cuttings
The propagation method is recommended to be used in early June. To do this, you can use semi-lignified one-year shoots, which need to be cut into pieces with two internodes. It is recommended to plant the cuttings in a damp peat-sand mixture, deepening them to 3-4 cm. After this, you need to build a mini-greenhouse over them and provide good lighting for 8-10 hours a day and a maintenance regime of about +18-22 °C. If all conditions are met, chocolate vine cuttings will take root after 1.5-2 months.
During the first year, seedlings need to be grown at home. And when they are well strengthened and begin to grow, you need to plant rooted akebia cuttings in open ground in a permanent place in the spring.
By layering
This is the easiest way to propagate chocolate akebia. To obtain young plants, it is necessary in the spring to bury the shoots of the plant 10 cm into the soil and fix them, sprinkle them completely, leaving only the top.
Throughout the season, it is important to monitor soil moisture near the cuttings and water regularly. Rooted akebia seedlings can be separated at two years of age in the spring. After this, it is recommended to transplant to a permanent place.
Seeds
The seed method of propagating chocolate vines can only be used for species plants, since the varietal properties are lost in this case. To obtain new seedlings, it is necessary to sow them in pots with soil in the fall and keep them in the refrigerator for three months. After the time has passed, the containers with seeds should be placed on a lighted windowsill and kept under a greenhouse at a temperature of +20 °C.
Akebia shoots will appear after 15-20 days
Chocolate vine seedlings need to be grown at home for three years, gradually transplanting them into larger pots. When the plants have developed a good root system, they can be transferred to open ground.
Akebia seedlings bloom at the age of 4-5 years
Application in landscape design
Chocolate vine is a popular landscape design element for vertical gardening. Moreover, akebia can be used both independently and in combination with other garden crops.
The vine can be used to decorate buildings, fences, gazebos, or simply secure its shoots to a reliable support
The best neighbors for this vine:
- hydrangea;
- Alpine clematis;
- climbing honeysuckle;
- euonymus;
- rhododendron.
Perennial shoots in prolonged contact with the ground are capable of taking root, which can lead to uncontrolled growth
Akebia can suppress the growth of neighboring crops when planted close together
Conclusion
The chocolate akebia vine is still rarely found in home gardens.However, the highly decorative and unpretentiousness of the culture contributes to the growth of its popularity every year. And if a few years ago this exotic plant could only be seen in the southern regions, now it is gradually adapting to the middle zone and the Moscow region and, judging by the reviews, quite successfully.
Reviews about akebia
