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Akebia x pentaphylla

Common name:		Family:	Lardizabalaceae
Author:	Makino.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat:	Woods and thickets. A naturally occurring hybrid, A. quinata x A. trifoliata[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	4	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Akebia [P],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	aphylla = leafless pentaphylla = 5 leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Ranunculales. Lardizabala family

Physical Characteristics

A decidious climber growing to 9m. It is hardy to zone 5 and is frost tender. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). We rate it 4/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, By Walls, By North Wall, By East Wall, By West Wall.

Edible Uses

Fruit Tea.

Fruit - raw[200]. Sweet but insipid. The fruit has a delicate flavour and a soft juicy texture[K]. The flavour can be enhanced by the addition of a little lemon juice. Valued as a novelty, it looks somewhat like a deep-purple coloured sausage.
The dried young leaves are a tea substitute.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Basketry.

The peeled stems are very pliable. They can be bleached and used in basket making[46, 61].

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil[200]. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils[200]. Prefers partial shade but succeeds in full sun[200]. Succeeds on a north facing wall[219].
Dormant plants are hardy to about -15° c but they can be somewhat tender when young and are best given some protection at this time[200]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K].
Resentful of root disturbance, either grow plants in containers prior to planting them out or plant them out whilst very young[219].
A naturally occurring hybrid, A. quinata x A. trifoliata[200].
Plants are evergreen in mild winters[11, 200]. They are fast growing and can be invasive[200]. Plants are not normally pruned, if they are growing too large they can be cut back by trimming them with shears in early spring[202].
Shy to fruit, it possibly requires some protection in the flowering season - hand pollination is advisable. Plants are also possibly self-sterile.
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Surface sow in a light position[133]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15° c[133]. Stored seed should be given 1 month cold stratification[113, 133] and can be very difficult to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. This is a hybrid species and so it will not breed true from seed.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[11, 113]. The cuttings can be slow to root[200].
Cuttings can also be taken of soft wood in spring[113].
Root cuttings, December in a warm greenhouse[113].
Layering in early spring[1]. Very easy, the plants usually self-layer and so all you need to do is dig up the new plants and plant them out directly into their permanent positions.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Lardizabalaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[133] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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