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Akebia

ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
in Plants
We have the 'dreaded' akebia! We planted it over 12 years ago and it is fast taking over ... I think we have a shed under it somewhere! 😂 But we love it anyway ... it just needs a trim.
I have just read the GW article about this plant and was surprised to learn that 'after a particularly warm summer, large sausage-shaped fruit dangle enticingly from the stems'. I have never seen anything like that on our akebia (unless they are well hidden - which is quite possible given the amount of foliage). Does anyone have an akebia that produces fruit and, if so, are they edible? 
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  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,211
    We had one for many years like you and never ever noticed any fruit. But maybe that was because we were for ever cutting it back.
  • AsarumAsarum Posts: 626
    The male and female flowers are on separate plants, so unless there is another one in the area to pollinate it you are unlikely to get fruit. Having said that, I believe it is on the verge of becoming an invasive plant. Mine is in a small courtyard just outside my kitchen and smells lovely when flowering. I have to hack it back too. 
    East Anglia
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,211
    @ShepherdsBarn coincidence! Today friends came for coffee and cake and a walk around the garden. We had given them many years ago a cutting of Akebia. They showed us the fruit (ours never did) that developed but as it became so invasive they did remove it. It appears that the fruit is edible but doesn't taste of much.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,200
    I've just removed my akebia a 'present' from a friend. I mistakenly planted it in the middle of a hedge to hide a bare patch but it wanted to dominate the world within 3 years so I hoiked it out.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 3,875
    Asarum said:
    The male and female flowers are on separate plants, so unless there is another one in the area to pollinate it you are unlikely to get fruit. 
    No, the Akebia is a dioic plant, with male and female flowers on the same plant! However, it still needs at least 2 specimens in the same vicinity for fertilisation. 

    Pic. of my Akebia quinata 'cream firm's showing both male & female flowers.
    I've had this plant for 8 years now on a pergola. It is severely trimmed once or twice a year. ;)
    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    Ah ... ours is missing the severe trims. 😅 We will get it sorted!
    Thank you @Papi Jo and everyone else! 👍
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,467
    Papi Jo said:

    No, the Akebia is a dioic plant, with male and female flowers on the same plant! However, it still needs at least 2 specimens in the same vicinity for fertilisation. 


    Agree.
    See pics to show the seed pods.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    That looks amazing! I have no idea which type I have ... several plants have taken root from the parent plant but not a different type as such. It is a very dark purple/wine colour.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 3,875
    Papi Jo said:
    Pic. of my Akebia quinata 'cream firm's showing both male & female flowers.
    Actually it's A. quinata 'Cream-flowered' or 'Cream form'.
    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    Thank you @Papi Jo. 🙂
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