The Chocolate Vine, 'Akebia quinata', will grow to the size of its support structure, sometimes growing up to 40’ tall. This twining woody vine can also be used as a groundcover and should be planted in full sun. The stems are divided into five, or sometimes fewer, and the small stems meet in a central zone. Akebia has oval shaped foliage that starts purple and mature into a blue-green. Although flowers are unusual, they may appear in late March to early April and are fragrant.
The fruits are purple-violet and will ripen in late September into early October. Akebia is deciduous in cool climates and remain evergreen in warmer regions. Because it is a rapid grower, one will need to cut back Akebia throughout the season and to the ground at the end of the summer. Plant this vine in optimal soil texture for best results.