Akebia (Akebia quinata)
 |
| Credit: Jeffdelonge, Jardin Botanique de Lyon, France, 2005 (source) |
I first became acquainted with the akebia vine while perusing the wide variety of perennial plants at One Green World. They describe akebia as "unique, beautiful, semi-evergreen vines" (https://www.onegreenworld.com/Akebia/410/).
Wikipedia describes akebia quinata as having chocolate-scented flowers and sausage-shaped fruit with a sweet pulp and a rind that has been used as a vegetable where it is stuffed with ground meat and deep-fried. The vines of the plant are traditionally used to make baskets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akebia_quinata).
These vines are strong climbers. The Plants for a Future (pfaf.org) plant database article on akebia quinata indicates that this vine likes everything from full shade to full sun. However, it seems to grow best in a dappled shade or mostly sunny location as full shade reduces fruit production and full sun can cause burn or withering on tender new growth in areas where the sunlight is strong or harsh.
While a native of China, Korea, and Japan, akebia is becoming popular here in the U.S. as an alternative to planting the de facto vine choice of grape. Like grapes, akebia is a deciduous vine, meaning that it dies back in the fall and winter. This allows sunlight through during the wintertime when it is especially desirable, while providing cool shade during the summer. Derek Fell, in his book Vertical Gardening
, explains that akebias are suitable for training up trellises, posts, walls, arbors, pergolas, or even telephone poles. He also mentions that it will climb up trees, twining around the trunk and branches to reach the canopy (the outermost leaves of the tree).One item of note is that many nurseries, including One Green World, sell two different species of akebia: Akebia quinata and Akebia trifoliata. As I was planning which varieties to purchase for establishing in my yard, I wanted a variety with a dark purple flower and another variety with a red flower. However, I noticed that one was A. quinata and the other was A. trifoliata. Sometimes species in the same genus cross-pollinate fairly easily to produce fruit, but that is definitely not the rule. When I questioned the viability of interspecies cross-pollination with akebia, Brandon from One Green World explained in an email that "they may be able to cross pollinate, but would produce more fruit and do a better job pollinating with two different varieties of the same genus." So there you have it: If you have any desire of akebia fruit production you should be sure to have at least two separate vines of the same species.
Do you have any experience with planting, maintaining or propagating akebia? Let me know about your experience in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment