Topic: Chocolate Vine

[Palustris]

Rather liked this close up of Chocolate Vine, but it is flowering very early.

[Roy Bham UK]

 ;) What a lovely picture Eric unusual plant, never seen one before :)

[MrsFrog]

Palustris, did you buy it as a plant or grow it from seed? If you grew it from seed, could you give me a few tips? I tried to grow one last year, planted 6 seeds, put them in the fridge in plastic bags for the recommended time then transferred them to the cold-frame. Not one germinated, I was so disappointed!  :( Beautiful photo though, lucky you!  ;D  

[Hex]

He did me a rooted cutting last week - fingers crossed it grows.

[Doris_Pinks]

Now I shall have to race down the garden tomorrow to see if mine is flowering yet!  Great photo Eric!

[GREENWIZARD]

lovely looking flower. does it smell of chocolate?

[Palustris]

I bought the plant, but cannot remember where. I will attempt to get some more layers to root. It has never set seed to my knowledge. There is no discernable scent to my nostrils.

[Mimi]

That is beautiful Eric.  Wonder why it is called 'chocolate vine'  ???

[Mrs Ava]

Hex, do you think I could borrow him??  ;D ;)

It is gorgeous Eric, would rather fancy one of those in my little patch.  Trying to find a climber for a north facing damp fence and I don't want ivy.  Your chocolate vine though would need to be near the house to be admired.  Gorgeous!

[MrsFrog]

I bought my seeds cos it apparently produces chocolate-flavoured sausage shaped fruits, but most importantly, its happy scrambling up a north wall! Having seen the pic, I'm going to give it another go!!

[Amazin]

Sorry to disappoint you MrsFrog, but akebia can be quite a tender plant  - although it'll tolerate partial shade, it prefers full sun and a bit of shelter - and certainly full sun and a really good summer to produce the fruits (which as far as I'm aware aren't scented), so not really good for a north facing wall. It's the flowers that smell of chocolate - in fact, mine actually smell like After Eight Mints!
I bought my Akebia as a two-foot shrub after trying so many times to grow the seed. Best of luck!

[Marianne]

Georgeous!  :D

[Palustris]

Needs shelter. Tender. Flipping heck, well don't tell my plant, it is on a trellis which is stood in front of the polytunnel which admittedly protects it a little from the  North, but we get frost almost all the year round. In fact the water in the bird baths is frozen now.

[Amazin]

I sit corrected, Palustris.  Though I'd suggest that your polytunnel is giving some serious protection (wouldn't mind one of 'em behind me right now as I caught a chill today). Either way, I'm delighted it can survive your frosty weather - just shows how well a plant can do when it's happy - and your photo is just stunning. By the way, my Akebia started flowered very early this year too.

[kitty]

liovely foto...sadly my akebia was too big to come with us when we moved in january...i miss it......