AKEBIA

Commonly known as Chocolate vine

Genus of about 5 species of deciduous or semi-evergreen twining climbers from forest margins in eastern Asia.

The common name comes from the vanilla/chocolate spicy scent.

It has become naturalised in the eastern USA and is hardy in milder parts of the UK

Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes

Good to know
Require warm springs and long, hot summers to fruit well.
Pests & Diseases
None.
Place of origin
Eastern Asia.
Resistant to honey fungus
These plants have little or few problems with honey fungus.
Deciduous
Semi-evergreen
Keeps some of its foliage all year, and will drop some leaves as well.
Climber
Some of these climbing plants will need trellis or wire supports if grown on walls or fences. Other grow aerial roots and are self-clinging

Twining habit. Produces unusual sausage-shaped, fleshy, purple fruits.
Fertile moist well-drained soil

View Planting Tips and Care Advice

Akebia - Care Guide

Growing Akebia – Chocolate Vine

More Care Guides & Tips

Search Caerhays Garden Diary for more info & pictures

varieties

AKEBIA longeracemosa

Long-racemed akebia

Fragrant dark purple-red flowers in spring borne in pendulous racemes up to 15cm long

2 to 3 Litre

£25.00

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Unavailable

AKEBIA x pentaphylla

A cross between A.quinata and A.trifoliata with dark purple flowers. Rare in cultivation

2 to 3 Litre

£20.00

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Available late spring to early summer 2026
Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.