20 Seeds TROPICA - Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata) By Seeds and Things

Origin: The Akebia is indigenous to East Asia. Propagation: Simply distribute the seeds on moist culitvaion soil, cover them thinly and leave them to germinate at 20°-24°C. Keep the soil moist, however, not wet during this period. Place / Light: The plant loves partially shaded to sunny places. Care: Standard soil with a portion of clay is suitable as planting soil. The chocolate vine loves warmer locations and even watering in summer. Winter period: The plant is completely winter-hardy. Older, bare shoots should be pruned heavily in spring. The plant will sprout again at the cutting marks, thus staying nicely green also in the lower sections. Worth knowing: This Tropical, lignifying climber has a lasting growing period, pleasant fragrance and simply looks good. Its violet-brown (female) and pink flowers (male) have an appetizing smell of cacao and chocolate, respectively, which actually led to the plant's name. Climbing a few metres per year, it is perfect for being grown next to trellises or on the pergola or in a tub with a climbing aid. Older plants do sometimes grow 5-10 metres per year. The shoots are slender and the leaves are palmately lobed. It is important to choose trellises that do not only run vertically but also horizontally. The plant produces 10 cm long fruits in summer, which become blue-violet when fully mature . They are edible and sweet in taste. The shape of the fruits actually gave the plant one of its common German names: Blue cucumber plant. The chocolate vine sheds its foliage late in the year, about beginning of December.