Stauntonia purpurea

The Stauntonia purpurea is a little-known vigorous climbing plant, but of great decorative value, resembling its cousins Akebia and Holboellia. This voluble plant is characterised by its lobed, evergreen and decorative foliage, and by its spring flowering with a penetrating rose fragrance, emanating from dark purple pendulous bells. A few edible fruits, purple then yellow at ripeness, are produced during the hottest summers. Moderately hardy, this plant is nonetheless easy to grow in shady positions, in rather moist, humus-rich, and slightly acidic soil.

The Stauntonia purpurea belongs to the Lardizabalaceae family. This monoecious climbing plant (with male and female flowers on the same subject) is native to Taiwan, where it grows in the valleys, dense forests, and among thickets, as well as along trails at altitudes between 1000 and 1600m (3281 and 5249ft). It is an evergreen woody vine, reaching a height of 5 to 7m (16 to 23ft), with a width of 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft). Its growth is rapid. The young branches and stems are green and striate, while older branches are covered with a rough grey-brown bark. Its leaves are compound, consisting of 5 ovate-oblong to elliptical, undulate leaflets, measuring 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) in length and 2.5 to 4.5cm (1 to 2in) in width. They are green in colour and have a leathery appearance. This plant produces monoecious flowers in spring, in April-May, which are either male or female, very similar in shape to flared and curved bells, with the female flowers being slightly longer. They consist only of sepals, with a waxy texture and a penetrating fragrance. The flowers are grouped in small clusters of 3 to 7. The flowering is followed in autumn by the formation of a few purple, oval and verrucate fruits, measuring 5 to 6cm (2in) in length, which are edible if they ripen.

The Stauntonia transports us with its fragrance to distant horizons and vigorously winds itself, if allowed, to the top of small trees, exposing its small, colourful flowers that form a beautiful contrast with its luxuriant foliage. It requires a sheltered position in most climates. By training the voluble stems as they grow, this shade-loving plant can be used to adorn a garden shelter, a shaded pergola, or a large north-facing wall, as its vigour allows. It will accompany the Glycine floribunda 'Premature' in a Japanese scene, or blend with the flowering of Clematis montana and Japanese honeysuckles. This Stauntonia can also be cultivated in large containers, which can be protected from severe frosts.