About
Akebia quinata 'Shirobana' is a robust, semi-evergreen vine known for its ability to climb and spread. Its foliage features five oblong to oval leaflets that are notched at the edges. In spring, it produces clusters of fragrant white flowers, each with a subtle pale purple center, which may later give way to elongated, sausage-shaped fruits.
About the genus
Akebia are robust, semi-evergreen climbing shrubs that twine as they grow. They feature either palmate or trifoliate leaves and produce racemes of cup-shaped flowers, with the female flowers being purplish and larger than the smaller male ones. If cross-pollinated with a different clone, they will bear large, sausage-shaped fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub
- Habit
- Climbing
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- wider than 8 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- A climber that thrives in most situations, but resents root disturbance
- Pruning
- Pruning group 11 after flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings or layering
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)