Kadsura japonica Fukurin

Little known and too rare in gardens, the Kadsura japonica Fukurin is a beautiful climbing plant from Asia, of modest size, with splendid evergreen foliage, intense green, widely bordered in yellow and cream. In summer, small fragrant white-cream flowers bloom, resembling Magnolia flowers. On female plants, bright red berries appear in autumn. This superb climber, vigorous without being invasive, will illuminate shaded areas of the garden with its variegated foliage, climbing a wall, a fence, a tree, or any other structure!

Kadsura japonica, native to forests in eastern and southeastern Asia, belongs to the Schisandraceae family. The Fukurin cultivar is a semi-evergreen to evergreen climber, vigorous, with twining stems, reaching up to 3m (10ft) in height, relatively fast-growing. Its glossy and variegated foliage, dark green with wide creamy yellow margins, has ovate and lanceolate leaves, slightly dentate, measuring 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long. The new shoots are beautifully tinged with purple-pink, as is the entire foliage in cold weather. Its small pendulous solitary cup-shaped flowers, 2cm (1in) in diameter, creamy yellow and slightly fragrant, resemble those of some Magnolias. They bloom in the axils of the leaves, from June to August. Being a dioecious species, a male plant and a female plant are necessary for fruiting. On female plants, after flowering, pendant fruits appear in the axils of the leaves, bright red and similar to mulberries, measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter.

This evergreen climbing plant, easy to grow, non-invasive and decorative all year round, will ideally be planted in a shaded to semi-shaded area of the garden, where its splendid variegated evergreen foliage will bring a bright touch. Although quite hardy, it is preferable to choose a location sheltered from cold winter winds. This Fukurin Kadsura from Japan is perfect for climbing on a trellis, a pergola, an arbor, or even a wire fence. It is ideal for covering and hiding an unsightly wall or fence. It can even climb a pole or a sturdy small tree. It can be associated with other climbers, such as Clematis, a climbing Fuchsia, a Schizophragma, or even a summer Wisteria.