Akebia x pentaphylla
Chocolate vine, Five leaved akebia
- Height × spread
- 5m × 5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This rare climbing plant has leaves that comprise five broad leaflets with bumpy edges, held on slender plum coloured stems. It gives elegant dense cover against a wall. Dark purple drooping racemes of flowers carrying a slight fragrance come in April. A fine specimen of this plant can be seen against a house wall in Oxford University Botanic Garden. Give this a sunny sheltered position in fertile, well drained but moisture retentive soil. It should reach around 5m (16ft) in both height and spread.
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Yellow
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, slight
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 5m
- Spread
- 5m
- Season of interest
- Spring
- Flowers in
- Spring, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring · Planting
Prune after flowering
Remove any dead or damaged branches, or any growth that looks very untidy. Trim the plant back if necessary to keep it within bounds.