The Chocolate Vine is a deciduous or semi-evergreen vine known for its attractive, compound leaves and fragrant, chocolate-purple flowers that bloom in the spring. The flowers are followed by elongated, edible fruits that have a sweet taste, hence the name "Chocolate Vine".
This plant is quite adaptable and can grow in a variety of conditions, but it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It's also a fast grower and can reach up to 20-40 feet in length, making it a great choice for covering fences, trellises, or arbors.
One thing to note about the Chocolate Vine is that it can become invasive in some areas due to its rapid growth and self-seeding habit. Therefore, it's important to monitor its spread and remove any unwanted seedlings promptly.
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Type:
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Perennial, Vine
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Height:
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20’ - 40’
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Spread:
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6’ - 9’
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Spacing:
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10’
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USDA Hardiness Zone:
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5 - 9
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Culture:
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Full Sun, Part Sun
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Bloom Color:
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Purple
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Season of Interest:
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Spring, Fall
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MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Water regularly. Extremely aggressive spreader- Plant roots in contained area and away from plants it can climb to prevent smothering. Listed as invasive in the Southeast.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Rock Gardens, Groundcover, Walls and trellises, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Clematis, Rudbeckia, Coneflower
IMAGES: Photo by Leonora (Ellie) Enking, Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine), (2) Robin Chubret, 2016-04-14-141246-Akebia-fleur, CC BY-SA 4.0, (3) Ursus sapien, Akebia quinata (vine, fruits, flowers) 10, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) monado, Akebia quinata leaf, CC BY-SA 2.5, (5) Asio otus, Pflanze-Akebia3-Asio, CC BY-SA 3.0, (6) Ursus sapien, Akebia quinata (vine, fruits, flowers) 03, CC BY-SA 4.0
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.
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