Chocolate Vine, Five-Leaf Akebia, Raisin Vine

On Dec 18, 2016, trudybb from Youngsville, LA wrote:

I'm in zone 9 South Louisiana & planted a cutting from a friend 12 years ago. It rooted & grew in a modest pot with a 3' lattice for a couple of years. Then I potted it in a large 10+ gallon pot on my patio near a corner post 8 years ago that is surrounded by an uncovered 12'x12' concrete patio. I'm saying that if it dropped seeds or tried to spread it was not the right environment for either. I added fishing line from the post to the house eves in both directions & it now grows back & forth year to year & now is a 12" wide tight vine adding the soft greenery as I envisioned way back. It's evergreen & does make insignificant tiny brownish flower clusters as shown in many pictures that I don't find have a smell. I recommend it as an evergreen covering where wanted in zone 9 +. It grows mode... read morerately fast & so far never was bothered by any bug or disease. I've taken cuttings & about 50% root. This is my favorable experience.

On Jul 22, 2015, MsMuddyToes from Kansas City, MO wrote:

I was told that this would be a good plant to climb in the shade and that it is semi evergreen, but it loses it's leaves here. It has never bloomed, but I have pretty much ignored it. The stump it was to cover finally rotted away, so I have provided it with a post. I took some cuttings as the chickenwire it was growing on was too large and I had to cut it back. I have had it for several years, but it is in shade. It has behaved itself nicely, but I put some cuttings in water and they already have roots so I looked it up here. I am not sure if I should dig it up now or not, but since it is in the shade and in acid soil where a large pine tree was for years, it seems ok. I just pulled out a ton of Vinca from the same spot and don't want any more invasives. We shall see if it takes off, bloom... read mores or start being bad and I will update if it happens.

On Feb 25, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

I've had to deal with this in a garden where a neighbor had allowed it to grow freely for many years and to take over 50' of fence. It required endless attention. It grows with astonishing speed, and I was continually pulling up 15' runners that were already rooting at every node. It also twines about and strangles any woody plant it can reach. Untangling it was immensely time-consuming.

It was very much like wisteria in its vigor and growth habit, and all in the shade of Norway maples. And as with wisteria, I was continually finding new seedlings in other beds.

Its height is limited only by the height of its support. It can climb tall trees.

This vine has naturalized in 16 states and has been reported invasive of natural areas in 6. I know it'... read mores taken over hundreds of acres of woodland on the Biltmore estate in NC.

On Jun 17, 2013, burien_gardener from Burien (SW Seattle), WA (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have 2 different varieties (one pale white, one deep burgundy) growing on the metal railing of my concrete deck. The pale vine is nearly 20 y/o and perhaps 50 ft in length. It blooms early spring with a delicate scent (NOT chocolate).

The burgundy vine is about 15 y/o and MUCH smaller than the other vine. Both grow in deciduous summer shade. The burgundy vine has set fruit once (blooms also NOT chocolate scented.

While edible, cardboard with a sugar coating is comparable. Dozens of seedlings sprang from the compost area where the fruits were interred. They take a LONG time to get going.

It is invasive in Seattle area? Don't know but I think I have the solution to cover a 10 ft tall x 50 ft wide retaining wall. YES!!

On Dec 27, 2012, pleisch from Austin, TX wrote:

I ordered two from the internet for an area that is well confined--don't want the invasive problem. One is doing well. However, one died. Only one person mentioned having two different vines. I'd like to order the other one as I understand that they do better with both. Yet, I haven't seen any listings, other than the nursery online, that list more than one variety, which makes me wonder why and if one is more hardy.

Can anyone tell me the difference and how to tell which one I have?

Thank you.

On Jul 31, 2012, cam2 from Houston, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:

I grade this neutral because while it grows like crazy and stays green through the winter, it has never bloomed for me.

On Apr 19, 2012, abbesmom from Cornwall Bridge, CT wrote:

Last year, I noticed my lilacs were being invaded. I also noticed the ground (and surrounding shrubs and trees) in this section of our property was covered with "something" very interesting. After a bit of research on the internet, I found out what it is. Chocolate vine. Yes, it is beautiful, it smells wonderful, and I love the flowers, but if you saw how many trees this has destroyed, how invasive and destructive it can be, you would think twice about planting it! Please, please, please, be very careful with this plant.

On Apr 23, 2011, Caedi25 from Kirkland, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:

Lovely, lacey well-behaved climbers. Threw them a bit of a curve by putting them in on the shade-to-speckled-sun north side of our house, but they've adapted very gracefully. And have survived everything from warm wet to flash frozen winter conditions without special care. Just gave them nice strong string to scale and they've twisted their way to the top of an 8 foot tall trellis, and are now waving their viney heads around...probably looking for more string to follow. Subtle. Lovely.

On Aug 20, 2010, andreasable from kurri kurri ,
Australia (Zone 10a) wrote:

This plant had been growing in our yard draped over a screen house for 7-9 years. I have been in the home only the past 3 years so can only speak to the experience then. The previous years had been in a drought and the past 3 winters quite wet. I had only a few blooms the first year but as it was top heavy cut it back to within a metre of the root. the following year had many blooms ,still no fruit, and this year it has bloomed already..mid winter and is covered with thousands of blooms and buds. The bees seem to prefer other plants and perhaps it is pollinated by insects instead. There has been no seedlings or offshoots appear so I am presuming the heat of our summers 35-40+ keep it in check . Mine grows in full sun but the roots are shaded by a port wine magnolia tree.

On Nov 9, 2009, scott9000 from York Springs, PA wrote:

This invasive vine could be the next Kudzu! Do NOT plant unless you want to terrorize the few remaining natives that are struggling to survive in Eastern forests and ecosystems. . It appears innocent for the first year or so, then as it becomes established it will take over and you will have to fight to keep it in check from taking over your flowerbeds, woodlands, etc. Any lanscaper recommending this plant does not know what they are doing!

On Jul 15, 2009, kmerideth from Woodsfield, OH wrote:

I purchased two of these several years ago to try and create some shade over my fish pond. I had no clue what they were, just liked the woody vines. One of them blooms white and the other blooms purple. For the first time the purple one is hanging full of fruit this year. It's quite an amazing site. I have not had any problem containing them to one area but need to find out exactly how to prune them because they are becoming quite top heavy.

On Jul 31, 2008, robcorreia from San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) wrote:

The foliage is so beautiful I don't even need blooms. Cut all but 2 or 3 stems for a tracery effect. Very pretty vine, not invasive at all for me.

On Dec 26, 2007, jkn from Havre De Grace, MD wrote:

INVASIVE DO NOT PLANT!

On Sep 24, 2007, _renee_ from Wellington,
New Zealand (Zone 10a) wrote:

Finally I've identified a 'mystery vine' in my garden as Akebia quinata. It was cut back to virtually nothing along with the rest of the overgrown scrub on a bank behind my house and sprayed with herbicide last year. I noticed it flowering this spring from bare wood; we've now got leaves, and new vines have just started coming away in the last week. With the warm temperatures we've had it's suddenly started growing fairly quickly and I'm hoping by autumn it will have spread nicely. Love the pretty foliage and the smell and unusual colour of the flowers. Both flowers and foliage are mostly very small so far on my plant; this could be the cultivar? but I suspect they'll get bigger as the vine comes away again.

Kiweed - there is no Akebia triata but there is an Akebia trif... read moreoliata (three-leave Akebia) which must be what you've got.

On May 7, 2006, stranjbrew from Memphis, TN wrote:

I have a wonderful chocolate vine in Memphis that is 6 or 7 years old. It is a fast growing and spreading vine, but the runners are mainly aboveground and can be cut away without much effort if it becomes too rampant. Otherwise, like wisteria, a lot is good. It seems like the plant was quite a few years old before it began producing the little grape-cluster-like dark fruits that are so beautiful. Although the seeds don't stay around too long, the vine is lushly attractive all year long. It is one of my favorite plants!

On Apr 12, 2006, ineedacupoftea from Denver, CO wrote:

Usually evergreen to 5 degrees F, give or take depending on individual. Prune in the spring after it blooms (as it blooms on 1+ year old wood.

Flowers are dominantly male, and a plant's first attempt may be all male (as pollen is cheaper to produce than fruit.) I liken the fragrance to a spiced version of honeysuckle.

Growth is greatest in spring and fall (in hot summer areas) but still grows rampantly all year. Likes full intense sun and blooms better with it.

On Mar 31, 2006, Beachgardengal from Horn Lake, MS (Zone 7b) wrote:

This is beautiful in early spring in 7b. It does not grow as fast as wisteria but in just a few years (maybe 4) it has grown up both sides of our trellis and about halfway over the top (12 x 14 trellis), therefore I am a little unsure of the 4-6 foot height listed for it. I need to trim it now since it has grown "up" and has a "hat" appearance at the corners. I only planted two, one on each end, and they have met and intertwined very well. It does give off a sweet smell when in bloom. I love seeing this as one of my first bloomers each year and it looks great with the daffodils blooming underneath it!

On Jun 12, 2005, NEgardener from Columbus, NE (Zone 5a) wrote:

I planted this vine two years ago, but have not been aware of any flowers -- that could be our zone 5 climate, or maybe I just looked for them too late in the spring. I have it growing along with a clematis vine, whose flowers are lovely next to the chocolate vine's unusual foliage. It has grown amazingly fast. Because of concerns that this vine may eventually overpower the less-vigorous clematis, I may need to move the clematis to another location.

On Mar 19, 2005, MontanaVineMan from Helena, MT (Zone 5a) wrote:

I planted an Akebia 2 years ago and have had fairly good luck with it in my climate, surprisingly. You would think Montana weather to be much too inclement to this vine, but as I say, it has done quite well so far. Here, it is deciduous but comes back bigger and better every year. I have not had it bloom for me yet, and I'm not sure it will in my zone, but we shall just see about that! I am hoping it will eventually bloom, and if it does, I will probably get another and then hand pollinate them to see if I can actually get the fruit to appear too. I really like any plants that belong to the Lardizabalacae family. I hope I spelled that right! LOL!!! I am thinking of purchasing a Stauntonia and a Holboellia also, to be grown in my solarium. I pretty sure those would NOT grow outside in this ... read moreclimate! But to anyone else in Montana, or my zone, I would recommend trying an Akebia vine. It's quite beautiful and well behaved here so far and really worth the extra effort.

On Jun 15, 2004, Fran99 from Spartanburg, SC wrote:

Grows very well here in upstate SC. Once established needs some control. My vine was an escape and now, after about 10 years covers a large area of fence. Have never had fruit.

On Jul 13, 2003, Cytania wrote:

Two of the three plants I bought are suffering some kind of mildew and can't even be bothered to twine properly. The specimen I have that is thriving has more dappled shade and has lived up to the promise of vigorous climbing. Perhaps the sunny wall repuation is overplayed?

On Feb 13, 2003, ohmysweetpjs from Brookeville, MD wrote:

I don't have this yet, I'm getting seeds and cuttings. I've heard that this is very invasive. The fruit tastes like tapioca. However, this plant is a treat for cold climates which don't usually get to have such interesting plants.