Schisandra chinensis Sadova N°1

The Schisandra chinensis 'adova N°1' is the very first selection of truly self-fertile Chinese schisandra, meaning it is capable of bearing abundant fruit without the presence of a male plant nearby in the garden. The fruits of this vigorous Asian climber, called Five Flavour Berries, once dried and ground into powder, are used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter, which undoubtedly inspired their name. The use of the plant for medicinal purposes is only recommended with medical advice. The fruit harvest takes place from August to October.

Originally from Eastern China, Mongolia, and Korea, the Schisandra chinensis belongs to the Illiciaceae family. It is a large deciduous vining tree, hardy down to -23°C (-9.4°F), decorative with its large leaves and clusters of red fruits. It has a relatively slow growth but can reach 9 to 10m (29 to 33ft) long. To thrive, the Chinese Schisandra requires humus-rich, deep, and consistently moist soil, even in summer. Traditionally used for its aphrodisiac properties, it was just as appreciated as Ginseng. According to writings, its berries would allow any man to "possess ten women for a hundred nights". For centuries, young Chinese people consumed them before their wedding night. The Schisandra chinensis is mostly a dioecious vine (sometimes monoecious), producing either female or male flowers. To bear fruit and produce berries, the female plant generally needs a male partner.

The recently selected cultivar 'Sadova N°1' in Ukraine does not have this drawback since both female (pistils) and male (stamens) organs are present on the same plant. The deciduous foliage falls in autumn. It consists of beautiful slightly glossy leaves with strong veins, oval to elliptical in shape, finely toothed at the edges, tapering to a point, measuring on average 12cm (5in) long and 5.5cm (2in) wide, of bright green colour, distributed along the voluble stems that spontaneously wrap around the support provided. Flowering occurs in early summer on plants aged 5 or 6 years. It takes the form of small whitish flowers tinged with pink or green, measuring 1 to 2cm (0 to 1in) in diameter, slightly fragrant. After pollination by insects, they give way to clusters of round and fleshy red berries, shiny, measuring about 6-7mm (<1in) in diameter.

The berries can be consumed fresh or dried. They contain up to 17 amino acids and a high concentration of vitamins, including A, B, C, and E, trace elements, proteins, and essential oils. They should not be consumed by pregnant women. Moreover, regular consumption in small doses will have no problematic side effects. In China, the berries are dried and ground into powder to become Wu Wei Zi, literally the "berry with 5 flavours". You can make a tea out of it: boil 1 teaspoon of dried berries per cup for 20 minutes. Strain, add sugar according to your taste. Enjoy. Dried leaves are also sometimes prepared as a tea.

The Schisandra chinensis 'Sadova N°1' will be trained like a vine, young plants need to be guided on a support initially before the plant starts to conquer the support provided. This voluble climber, which can hide anything unsightly, is perfectly suited for ornamental fences, garden sheds, pergolas, trellises, or other arbors, and perfect for dressing up a wall with sturdy wires or a large trellis. For example, associate it with a golden hop, an akebia, or, to stand out, an aristolochia.