Two Akebia Collection - Chocolate Vine

A duo of Akebia quinata, also known as Five-leafed Akebia, composed of the classic Akebia quinata, with deep purple flowers, and its variety Silver Bells, with mauve and white-silver flowers. These are original and vigorous climbing plants, adorned with decorative deciduous foliage and fragrant spring flowers grouped in clusters. Their long voluble stems wrap around any support available to them. Although slow to establish, these creepers will enthusiastically cover a pergola, a canopy, or take over a slightly sad old hedge...

This duo is composed of a classic Aquebia quinata and a 5-leafed Akebia 'Silver Bells'.

Akebias, native to China, Korea, and Japan, were introduced to Europe in the mid-19th century, where they enjoyed great success. After falling out of fashion for a few decades, they are making a comeback today, especially since they are both decorative climbers, easy to grow in any deep soil and resistant to cold (down to at least -15°C (5°F) for a well-established specimen). These plants belong to the Lardizabalaceae family, just like the Holboellia.

The long, round, and voluble stems of Akebia quinata can exceed 8m (26ft) on a mature plant under optimal conditions. It takes 3 to 5 years for the plant to establish itself, after which it can produce stems several meters long in a single season. They are adorned with palmate leaves, divided into 5 ovate leaflets, dark green on the upper side and blue-green on the underside, sometimes tinged with purple in winter. They are attached to the stem by a long petiole of about 10cm (4in). In mild climates, this foliage is semi-evergreen in winter, while it is deciduous everywhere else. Flowering occurs in spring, in April-May depending on the climate. An Akebia plant will bear both male and female flower clusters, but separately. The highly fragrant flowers appear in the axils of the leaves, grouped in short clusters. The male flowers are arranged in pendulous racemes of 4 to 15 units, while the female flowers, 2 to 3cm (1in) in diameter, are grouped in clusters of 3 or 4 units. They all consist of a calyx with 3 rounded sepals, from which the fertile parts emerge: stamens in male flowers, or a pistil in female flowers. In classic Akebia quinata, the calyx is wine- to chocolate-coloured. In 'Silver Bells', the sepals are white-silver. This flowering emits a delicious scent reminiscent of pastries, with a more or less vanilla-chocolate aroma. Fruit formation is more common in warm regions, and pollination requires the presence of two different plants. The oval fruits measure 7cm (3in) in length and contain an edible, white and gelatinous pulp, with numerous bitter seeds. These fruits ripen in September-October.

The lightness of their foliage and leaves allows Akebia quinata to climb in a hedge or on a tree, or as a complement to a climbing rose (Treasure Trove, Mermaid), or a vigorous clematis (Clematis montana, terniflora). They are elegant and fragrant plants that can also be used to cover a canopy or a pergola, as they provide shade on a terrace in summer while allowing sunlight in winter.