General description: The five-leaf akebia is a perennial shrub that grows to a height of 5-10 m. It belongs to the belonging to the woody plant Lardizabalaceae family. This shrub is perfect for planting alongside fences, next to trellises, pergolas and arbours, and any other strong garden support as it wraps its strong tendrils around anything standing close by. It can also grow as a ground cover if no support is available.

Flowers: The five-leaf akebia has decorative, elongated leaflets and sweet-smelling, star-shaped flowers gathered in clusters. Male flowers are light pink, and female ones display a darker purple colour.

Blooming: The five-leaf akebia blooms from April until June.

Leaves: This shrub has palmately compound, dark green leaves composed of 5 elliptical or ovate leaflets on long petioles.

Fruit: In autumn (from September to October), this akebia produces cylindrical, exotic-looking fruit gathered in infructescences composed of 2-6 fruit. The elongated, intensely violet fruit pods, similar in shape to eggplants, start to crack when ripe to reveal edible white flesh. It’s sweet and somewhat resembles the taste of a melon.

Cultivation requirements: The akebia prefers sunny spots but can also grow in semi-shade, however it does not tolerate very hot locations. It grows best in moderately moist, sandy, well-drained soils. Seedlings should be planted a metre apart. To increase fruiting, at least two shrubs should be planted in each other’s vicinity.

Pruning: Caring for an akebia shrub includes weeding (especially of young plants) and pruning. Trimming Overgrown shrubs every few years is recommended. The first shoots of a young akebia should be led along support. Every 2-3 years, individual shoots can be heavily pruned in spring, so that the akebia will grow more dense in its lower parts.

Overwintering: Akebia is a semi-evergreen vine. It keeps its leaves until frost of around -15°C. In Poland, this plant is not fully frost-proof and may freeze in harsher winters, but it usually grows back from the base in spring.

Origin: Asia.