Description of akebia, recommendations for cultivating a plant in a garden and a room, advice on reproduction, possible diseases and pests, curious facts, species. Akebia belongs to dicotyledonous plants (they have a pair of cotyledons in their embryos, which are located opposite each other) of the Lardizabalaceae family. The native area of natural distribution falls on the territory of East Asia, which includes China, Korea and Japanese lands. These plants have taken root well in the Crimea, the Caucasus and southern regions of Europe. This genus includes up to six varieties, but gardeners only use a couple of them.
| Family name | Lardizabal |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Growth features | Liana or creeping |
| Reproduction | Seed and vegetative (cuttings or rooting of cuttings) |
| Landing period in open ground | May June |
| Substrate | Any low-acid, universal primer will do. |
| Illumination | Sunny location, no direct sunlight on the plant |
| Moisture indicators | Moderate humidity, regular watering |
| Special Requirements | Unpretentious |
| Plant height | Up to 7 m |
| Color of flowers | Violet pink and violet brown |
| Type of flowers, inflorescences | Loose, racemose |
| Flowering time | April-August |
| Decorative time | Spring-summer |
| Place of application | Gazebos, arches, retaining walls |
| USDA zone | 4, 5, 6 |
All varieties of the genus Akebia have a shrubby liana-like shape and are mainly cultivated as ornamental garden plants. They are distinguished by evergreen foliage, but only in warm climates. Due to the fact that in the process of flowering flowers that have a purple or violet-reddish color open, which are collected in inflorescences, exuding a chocolate aroma, the plant is often called a "chocolate vine".
The height of the shoots of this vine can approach the indicators of about seven meters, while they can climb any available support, but if it is not nearby, then they acquire creeping outlines. Curly stems, thin, with a grayish-brown surface color. The leaves are formed on the branches, located in the next sequence. The leaf plate consists of 3-5 ovoid lobes and a petiole, through which a kind of leaf rosette is formed. The length of the petiole can vary in the range of 6–10 cm. The color of the foliage takes on a dark green color on the upper side, while the lower is lighter. All leaf surfaces are glossy. The edge of the leaf is pointed. The leaflets reach 3–5 cm in length and about 1, 5–3 cm in width.
When April comes, akebia begins to bloom and this process lasts until the end of August. Each flower has a separate peduncle, but at the same time large inflorescences-brushes of a loose shape are collected from the buds. Flowers of different sexes are usually formed on one stem:
- Male ones are located near the apex and there are 4-9 units in the entire inflorescence. Such buds are larger, the corolla has a violet-pink tint, the pollen of the stamens is also quite large. In this case, the diameter of the flower is 3 cm.
- The size of the female flowers is slightly smaller, with purple-brown tones in their color. In one inflorescence, only 2-3 pieces can form, such flowers have dense central ovaries.
At the beginning of autumn, fruiting occurs, which is a rather rare process, since there are problems with pollination. Fruits become fully ripe only by mid-October. When grown at home, this may not happen. The fruit is an oval-shaped berry with a length of up to 10 cm. In akebia, the fruits are somewhat similar to cucumbers. The surface of the berry is glossy and dense, as if there is a wax coating. When the fruit is fully ripe, its color takes on a pink-purple color scheme. The pulp has a pleasant aroma, it is juicy and edible. Its taste resembles raspberry, and its smell is chocolate. In the central part of the berry, there are multiple black seeds surrounded by pulp.
Recommendations for the cultivation of akebia, care in the garden and indoors
- Landing place. The plant loves bright, but diffused light. It is best not to plant it in full shade as Akebia will grow foliage to the detriment of flowering. When growing, an east or west direction is suitable. If in the house you have to keep it in the southern room, then they put the pot at a distance of a meter from the window. Protected from wind and draft.
- Watering and humidity. For akebia, moderate watering is recommended so that the soil is not waterlogged. This is especially important in the spring and summer. However, the root system should not dry out either. Like liana and sprinkling of its deciduous mass. For both irrigation and spraying, it is recommended to take water at room temperature. When autumn comes, the watering is sharply reduced and the soil is moistened only after its top layer dries well.
- Fertilizers for "chocolate vine" it is necessary to apply during the entire growing season once a month. Both organic and mineral products are used.
- Transplant and soil selection. For akebia, a fertile and well-permeable soil with neutral acidity is required. When planting in a pot or hole in the open field, a sufficient layer of drainage material must be laid on the bottom so that the roots do not rot from moisture. Dried grass or foliage, peat and river sand are also added to the soil. Planting is carried out carefully due to the fragility of the root system. The soil is lightly compacted after planting. Then the plant is watered with not very cold water. When planting, you immediately need to think about a support, so that later you can tie shoots to it. If this factor is not provided, then the vine will look like a ground cover. When the plant is grown indoors, it is recommended to change the pot for it every two years. At the same time, it is better to immediately select a container more spaciously, since Akebia takes on rather large sizes.
- General advice on care. The most elongated shoots, even before the buds begin to bloom, are recommended to be cut or pinched. The cutting operation should be carried out in the last days of autumn, and the pinching in the beginning of spring. When wintering outdoors, the plant should be covered with agrofibre or other material. If this vine is kept in rooms, then it will be possible to admire the flowering for almost a whole year, since its rest period is very short.
- Using the "chocolate vine". Since the shoots of the plant are distinguished by climbing and creeping qualities, it is used to decorate hedges, arches and gazebos, as well as decorate outbuildings. It is worth not forgetting that lush foliage gives a good shade and therefore Akebia designers plant terraces and balconies. If you plant it next to flowering or undersized representatives of garden flora, then the liana will only benefit against their background, but it will look good next to other liana-like plants. Landscape designers recommend choosing hydrangea or honeysuckle, hosts or wormwood, peonies or rhododendrons as green companions for Akebia.
Acebia breeding tips
It is customary to propagate "chocolate liana" both by sowing seeds and using a vegetative method (by rooting cuttings or cuttings).
It is better to sow seeds in the ground immediately after they are collected from the vines, as they very quickly lose their germination. Planting material is carried out in pots or seed boxes filled with light sandy soil. Seeds are planted to a depth of no more than 5 mm, and sprinkled with soil. Containers with crops should be covered with a transparent polyethylene film or a piece of glass should be placed on top. Germinate akebia seeds in a cool room, where the thermometer readings are about 15 units. You will have to take care of it for almost three months until friendly shoots appear. In this case, it is necessary to periodically ventilate the crops and water the soil when it dries up.
When 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, you can plant them in separate small pots with the same soil. When the sprouts are well strengthened, they transplant to the chosen place in the garden, but this time will not come until the end of May or the beginning of summer, when the threat of night frosts has already passed. A plant obtained by sowing seeds will bloom only in the 4th year.
If "chocolate vine" grafting is carried out, then cutting is performed from lignified or semi-lignified shoots. You can cut blanks during the entire growing season of Akebia. The length of the branches should be at least 8-10 cm. Planting cuttings is recommended in peaty-sandy soil, and the seedlings can be moved into open ground only for the next year.
The simplest way of reproduction is considered to be the rooting of layers. At the very beginning of the spring period, a healthy branch must be bent to the ground and dug in, without separating it from the mother plant. After the root shoots are formed at the cuttings, then the shoot can be cut off from the akebia and transplanted to another place. Then there will be an opportunity for a young plant to grow stronger before the onset of natural cold snap and spend the winter outside.
Possible diseases and pests when growing akebia in the garden and at home
The plant resists various harmful insects well due to its insecticidal properties and can even scare them away from the garden plot on which it is grown. But, despite its protective features, the "chocolate vine" sometimes suffers from fungal infections. It happens that Akebia falls prey to the mottled foliage. All this happens if the planting site is chosen incorrectly: constant humidity and the proximity of groundwater, the absence of a drainage layer during planting, or the owner violates the watering rules, and the substrate is constantly in a waterlogged state. In this case, whitish oval spots can be seen on the foliage, which, if no action is taken, quickly spread to all leaves.
It is necessary to regularly inspect the vines, and if the first signs of the disease are noticed, then it is recommended to remove the affected leaf plates. With the arrival of spring, for the prevention of akebia, they are treated with Bordeaux liquid or foundation. After that, a compost layer should be laid out in the root zone of the bush.
Curious facts and photos of chocolate liana
But not only the flesh and fruit skin of akebia has edible qualities, so in Japan, with the arrival of spring, it is customary to eat young buds and shoots of this vine. And with the arrival of autumn, its berries can be eaten both raw and slightly fried. It is especially delicious when the inside is stuffed with meat or minced chicken. If you brew the foliage, you get a delicious drink with invigorating properties. The foliage is dried and used as a seasoning for meat or fish dishes.
In addition, Akebia also has an economic use in the territory of its natural growth. So craftsmen weave various household utensils from it (baskets and the like) and even manage to make furniture for the garden.
But that's not all. For a long time, oriental healers have used akebia because of its diuretic, antipyretic properties, so a decoction from its parts can not only anesthetize, but also have an anti-inflammatory nature.
Types of akebia
Akebia quinata. The most common variety. Under natural conditions, it grows on Chinese, Japanese and Korean lands. Naturalized in the Australian continent, North America (from the mid-19th century) and in areas of Europe. It is cultivated on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea, which includes Sochi, Sukhumi, Batumi and Crimea. In the latter case, the plant is located on the territory of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, where, although it does not bear fruit, it blooms.
It carries its specific name because of the structure of the leaf plate, since it always combines five leaf lobes on elongated petioles, which resemble an open palm. In length, the leaves reach 5 cm with a width of about 3 cm. The length of the petioles is 10 cm. The stems of the liana are smooth, their surface is covered with longitudinal grooves. The size of the shoots is 3 m. Along the entire length of the liana, flowers open up, connecting in racemose inflorescences. The color of the shoots is dull purple-purple. The leaves are dull green on top, while the bottom is light green. The surface of the leaves is shiny.
The flowers are monoecious. Those with a pistil have a purple-brown tint and their diameter is 2.5–3 cm; staminate flowers of pinkish-brown color, their size is smaller. There are 2-3 pistillate buds in the inflorescence, while 4-9 stamen buds are formed. The flowering process takes place in May.
The length of ripening fruits is 6–8 cm. Their shape is oblong-ovoid. The berries are fleshy and have a purple-violet surface color. The entire skin has a waxy coating. When ripe, the fruit opens along the seam located on the abdomen, exposing the seeds. The number of seeds is large, their color is black, they are located in several rows. Flesh surrounds them on all sides. Fruiting occurs in the period from September to October.
The plant has been in cultivation since 1845. At this time, in the west, varieties have gained wide popularity:
- "Purple Rose" characterized by flowers of carmine-red color;
- "Alba" flowers with a snow-white corolla;
- "Silver Bells" the color of these flowers has delicate tones of blue-creamy tones.
Akebia trifoliata is sometimes found under the name Akebia lobed or Akebia trifoliata. This variety is more winter hardy than the previous species. It prefers to grow on the edges of forests located in the mountain zone, along stream channels in East Asia. This vine has a shrub shape and bare branches. Shoots in height approach the mark of 7-9 m, but can grow both vertically and horizontally. The type of branches in this case will directly depend on what supports are made for them. The color of the shoots is brown. The foliage is three-lobed, located alternately, has long petioles. The leaflets take on an ovoid or elliptical shape. The leaf lobe, which is located in the center, is attached with the longest petiole, and at the lateral ones they are shorter.
When blooming, small and not too decorative flowers are revealed, from which a racemose drooping inflorescence is formed. The inflorescence consists of male and female buds. So the first there are a large number, they are painted in a matte purple color and they are mainly located at the top of the inflorescence axis. Female flowers are much larger, their petals take on a dark purple hue. There are only a few such flowers. They have elongated pedicels and grow at the base of the inflorescence. The flowering process occurs at the end of spring.
The fruits of this variety are the largest. Their shape is oblong, the color of the skin is light purple. The length is about 10 cm and the weight ranges from 25-300 grams. Because of this shape of the fruit, the plant is sometimes referred to as the "blue banana". Ripening of fruits in this variety takes 40-50 days from the last September days and stretches until the beginning of November. Berries ripen only in warm conditions of the southern regions.
