akebia quinata (chocolate vine)
$22.95
- small clusters of chocolate-purple flowers
- pendant flowers open slightly before the foliage emerges
- spicy-scented flowers contain both male and female parts
- purple fruit, 10 cm in length, open in the fall to reveal small, black seeds
- semi-evergreen foliage with five distinct oblong leaflets
- green to bluish-green foliage
- bloom time: late april
- zone 5
- height 8-10m
- spread 3m
- colour deep purple
- akebia grows best in a rich, moist, well-drained soil, in full sun to partial shade
- prune after flowering to the desired size, and as necessary throughout the season
- akebia can be grown on a wall or trained up a trellis or arbour
- in the spring, remove dead twigs to improve overall appearance
- can also be used as a ground cover to hide unsightly tree stumps or rocks
- full sun, partial sun/shade
- fast growing
- fragrant
- evergreen
- ground cover