Akebia trifoliata
| Akebia trifoliata | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 30' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Akebia trifoliata (common name: akebia)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Surface sow in a light position[1]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[1]. Stored seed should be given 1 month cold stratification[2][1] and can be very difficult to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3][2]. The cuttings can be slow to root[4].
Cuttings can also be taken of soft wood in spring[2].
Root cuttings, December in a warm greenhouse[2].
Layering in early spring[5]. Very easy, the plants usually self-layer and so all you need to do is dig up the new plants and plant them out directly into their permanent positions.
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil[3][4]. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils[4]. Prefers partial shade but succeeds in full sun[6][4]. Grows well on a north facing wall[7].
Dormant plants are hardy to about -20°c but they can be somewhat tender when young[4]. Another report says that this species is not as hardy as A. quinata, only tolerating temperatures down to -10°c. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K]. This species grows very well in S.W. England.
Resentful of root disturbance, either grow plants in containers prior to planting them out or plant them out whilst very young[7].
Plants are evergreen in mild winters[3]. Fast growing, it can be invasive. It grows well on deciduous trees[8]. Plants are not normally pruned, if they are growing too large they can be cut back by trimming them with shears in early spring[9].
Plants are shy to fruit, they possibly require some protection in the flowering season, hand pollination is advisable[6][3]. Plants are probably self-sterile[10], if possible at least 2 plants should be grown, each from a different source. The flowers are sweetly scented[11].
The fruits are sold in local markets in Japan[12].
The ssp. A. trifoliata australis. (Diels.)Rehd. is used medicinally in China[13].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.[4]
Range: E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat: Rocky places in woods and thickets to 1800 metres[14]. Semideciduous forest margins, open forest along valleys, scrub on hillsides and by streams at elevations of 200 - 2100 metres[15].
Edibility: Fruit - raw. Sweet but insipid[16][6][12][17][18]. The fruit has a delicate flavour and a soft juicy texture[K]. The flavour can be enhanced by the addition of a little lemon juice. Valued more as a novelty, the fruit looks somewhat like a deep-purple coloured sausage[19]. The fruit is 7 - 13cm long[4].
The dried young leaves are used as a tea substitute[12][17][18][19].
Medicinal: The stems are analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor. blood tonic, cardiotonic, diuretic, emmenagogue and galactogogue[20][13]. Taken internally, it controls gram-positive bacterial and fungal infections and is used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, lack of menstruation, to improve lactation etc[13][21]. The stems are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[21].
Usage: The peeled stems are very pliable. They can be bleached and used in basket making[12][17].
Notes: We could supply this in the next catalogue.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Removal: Easily pulls out.
Also Known As: Clematis trifoliata. A. lobata.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Simmons, Alan. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles, 1972.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
- ↑ Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.