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.

Akebia

Akebia longeracemosa is a semi-evergreen vine that can reach heights of up to 8 meters. Its foliage features bright green leaves made up of five oblong leaflets, which may take on a purplish hue during the winter months. In spring, this plant produces fragrant, cup-shaped flowers in a purple-red hue, arranged in drooping racemes that can grow up to 15 centimeters in length. These blooms may be succeeded by elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that are purplish in color.

Akebia longeracemosa

Akebia quinata is a semi-evergreen vine that can reach heights of approximately 10 meters. It features rounded, dark green foliage with a blue-green underside, consisting of five leaflets that may take on a purplish hue during the winter months. In early spring, it produces fragrant, reddish-purple flowers arranged in racemes measuring around 12 centimeters long. These blooms may later give way to elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that can grow up to 10 centimeters in length.

Akebia quinata

Akebia quinata 'Amethyst Glow' is a semi-evergreen vine that can reach heights of around 10 meters. Its foliage consists of rounded, dark green leaves with a blue-green underside, typically featuring five leaflets that acquire a purple hue during the winter months. In early spring, this plant produces fragrant purple female flowers alongside paler pink male blooms, both arranged in racemes measuring approximately 12 centimeters. Following the flowering period, it may yield elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that can grow up to 10 centimeters long and are purple in color.

Akebia quinata 'Amethyst Glow'

Akebia quinata 'Rosea'

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.

Akebia quinata 'Shirobana'

Akebia quinata 'Silver Bells' is a semi-evergreen vine that can reach heights of approximately 10 meters. Its foliage consists of rounded dark green leaves, which have a blue-green hue on the underside, each leaf made up of five leaflets that may take on a purple tint during winter. In early spring, the plant produces fragrant flowers in two varieties: pinkish-purple female blooms and white male flowers featuring purple-pink stamens, both arranged in racemes that measure about 12 centimeters long. Following the flowering period, it may develop elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that can grow up to 10 centimeters in length.

Akebia quinata 'Silver Bells'

Akebia quinata 'White Chocolate' is a semi-evergreen vine that can reach heights of around 10 meters. Its foliage consists of rounded, dark green leaves that are blue-green on the underside, featuring five leaflets that take on a purple hue during the winter months. In early spring, this variety produces clusters of flowers that are vanilla-scented, ranging from white to very pale purple, with each raceme measuring about 12 centimeters in length. Following the flowering period, it may yield elongated, banana-flavored fruits that can grow up to 10 centimeters long, shaped like sausages.

Akebia quinata 'White Chocolate'

Akebia quinata 'Cream-Flowered' is a robust, semi-evergreen vine featuring lush green leaves made up of five oval leaflets. In spring, it produces clusters of creamy-white blooms with purple centers that emit a chocolate fragrance. These flowers may be succeeded by pale, sausage-shaped fruit.

Akebia quinata cream-flowered

Akebia quinata variegated (v) is a semi-evergreen climbing plant that can reach heights of approximately 10 meters. Its leaves are rounded and dark green on the top, with a blue-green hue underneath. Each leaf is made up of five leaflets that may show a purple tint during the winter months. In early spring, this variety produces fragrant racemes of reddish-purple flowers, each measuring around 12 centimeters. These flowers are occasionally succeeded by elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that can grow up to 10 centimeters in length.

Akebia quinata variegated (v)

Akebia spathulata

Akebia trifoliata is a vigorous climbing plant featuring leaves made up of three oval, subtly lobed leaflets that may exhibit a bronze hue in their juvenile stage. The plant produces deep purple flowers arranged in short racemes, which are succeeded by light purple fruits.

Akebia trifoliata

Akebia trifoliata 'Amethyst'

Akebia trifoliata 'Big Fruit'

Akebia trifoliata var. australis

A robust and hardy semi-evergreen vine featuring appealing leaves and dark reddish-purple flowers that emit a chocolate fragrance. It is a natural hybrid resulting from the cross between A. quinata and A. trifoliata.

Akebia x pentaphylla

Boquila trifoliolata

Decaisnea consists of deciduous shrubs characterized by their large, compound leaves. In summer, the plants produce small, greenish flowers that are not particularly notable, which are succeeded by prominent, bean-shaped fruits.

Decaisnea

Decaisnea fargesii is a substantial deciduous shrub characterized by its large, lobed leaves that can reach lengths of up to 90 cm, displaying a bluish hue in the spring and transitioning to a bright yellow in the fall. In autumn, it produces elongated clusters of inconspicuous greenish flowers, which are subsequently replaced by distinctive, metallic blue, bean-shaped pods that can grow to 10 cm in length.

Decaisnea fargesii

Decaisnea fargesii 'Harlequin' (v)

Decaisnea insignis

Decaisnea insignis yellow-fruited

Holboellia consists of robust evergreen climbing shrubs characterized by their twisting stems. They feature leathery, palmate foliage and produce axillary clusters of small flowers, with both male and female blooms present on individual plants.

Holboellia

Holboellia aff. chapaensis

Holboellia aff. grandiflora

Holboellia angustifolia

Holboellia angustifolia subsp. angustifolia is a robust evergreen vine that can reach heights of around 7 meters. Its foliage features glossy, palmate leaves made up of approximately six leaflets, each measuring up to 13 centimeters in length. In spring, the plant produces short racemes bearing small greenish-white male flowers alongside fewer, larger purplish female flowers. This species may also yield edible, sausage-shaped purple fruits, which can grow up to 9 centimeters long.

Holboellia angustifolia subsp. angustifolia

Holboellia angustifolia subsp. linearifolia

Holboellia angustifolia subsp. obtusa

Holboellia brachyandra is a robust, evergreen climbing plant that can reach heights of approximately 5 meters. It features dark green, papery leaves made up of three leaflets, each measuring up to 12 cm in length with rolled edges. In late spring, the plant produces fragrant flowers; the male flowers are smaller and white with a hint of purple, while the female flowers are larger and entirely white. Occasionally, this species will yield edible fruits that are shaped like sausages.

Holboellia brachyandra

Holboellia chapaensis

Holboellia coriacea is a vigorous climbing plant featuring leaves made up of three oblong, leathery leaflets. It produces clusters of pale purple male flowers alongside greenish female blooms. These flowers may later give rise to elongated, sausage-shaped fruits that measure between 5 to 6 cm in length, displaying a greenish-purple hue.

Holboellia coriacea

Holboellia coriacea 'Cathedral Gem'

Holboellia coriacea purple-flowered

Holboellia from Thailand

Holboellia grandiflora is a robust evergreen climber with woody stems that can reach heights of 5 to 7 meters. Its leaves are leathery and dark green on the upper side, with a silvery hue underneath, and are made up of 5 to 9 leaflets. In late spring, this plant produces distinct male and female flowers that are fragrant, pale yellow with a purple flush, measuring up to 3 cm in length. Following the flowering period, it may yield edible fruits that are lilac-purple and sausage-shaped.

Holboellia grandiflora

Holboellia latifolia is a vigorous climbing plant characterized by its leathery leaves, which are typically green but exhibit a purple-bronze hue in new growth. Each leaf comprises three broad, ovate leaflets. The flowers appear in spring and vary in color; male flowers are generally greenish-white, while female flowers display shades of purplish to red-purple. The blooms are also fragrant, adding to the plant's appeal.

Holboellia latifolia

Holboellia latifolia dark-flowered

Holboellia latifolia lanceolate-leaved

Holboellia latifolia pale-flowered

Holboellia latifolia subsp. chartacea

Holboellia latifolia subsp. chartacea dark-flowered is a robust climbing plant, reaching heights of approximately 6 meters. Its woody stems support evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, featuring papery dark green leaves made up of five or more leaflets, which typically shed as flowering begins. In spring, the plant produces a profusion of fragrant male flowers that are purplish-blue, alongside pale pink-lilac female blooms. These may later develop into elongated, purple, edible fruit resembling sausages.

Holboellia latifolia subsp. chartacea dark-flowered

Holboellia latifolia subsp. chartacea is a robust, woody vine that can reach heights of approximately 6 meters. This evergreen or semi-evergreen climber features papery, dark green foliage made up of five or more leaflets, which tend to fall off as the flowering period begins. In spring, the plant produces numerous fragrant, pale pink flowers that are distinctively male and female. These blooms may later give way to edible, purple, sausage-shaped fruit.

Holboellia latifolia subsp. chartacea pale-flowered

Holboellia traversii

Lardizabala consists of climbing shrubs that feature leaves made up of 3, 9, or more ovate leaflets. The plants produce small male and female flowers in distinct inflorescences or on different specimens, which are succeeded by edible fruits.

Lardizabala

Lardizabala funaria

Sinofranchetia

Sinofranchetia chinensis

Stauntonia consists of evergreen climbing plants that twine around supports. They feature palmate leaves and produce small, bell-shaped flowers, with male and female blooms typically found in separate axillary racemes on the same specimen. These plants are known for their edible fruits that develop after flowering.

Stauntonia

Stauntonia aff. chinensis

Stauntonia aff. libera

Stauntonia aff. maculata

Stauntonia from northern Vietnam

Stauntonia hexaphylla is a robust climbing plant characterized by its leathery, elliptical leaflets, which typically number between three and seven. This species produces axillary racemes adorned with fragrant, pale pink flowers, each measuring approximately 2 cm long. Following the flowering period, it may yield ovoid, purplish fruits that can grow up to 5 cm in length.

Lardizabalaceae