Akebia quinata
(five-leaf akebia)

Preferred Common Name

• five-leaf akebia

Other Scientific Names

• Akebia micrantha Nakai
• Akebia quinata f. albiflora Y.N.Lee
• Akebia quinata f. diplochlamys (Makino) T. Shimizu
• Akebia quinata f. polyphylla (Nakai) Hiyama
• Akebia quinata f. viridiflora Makino
• Akebia quinata var. diplochlamys Makino
• Akebia quinata var. longeracemosa (Matsum.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson
• Akebia quinata var. polyphylla Nakai
• Akebia quinata var. yechi W.C.Cheng
• Rajania quinata Thunb. ex Houtt

International Common Names

• English: akebia; chocolate-vine; fiveleaf; raisin vine
• French: akébia à cinq folioles or feuilles
• Russian: akebia pyaternoye
• Chinese: bai mu tong; mu tong; son ye mu tong

Local Common Names

• Germany: fingerblättrige akebie; fuenfblaettrige akebie
• Netherlands: klimbes; schijnaugurk

EPPO code

• AKEQI (Akebia quinata)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Ranunculales
•                         Family: Lardizabalaceae
•                             Genus: Akebia
•                                 Species: Akebia quinata

A. quinata is one of approximately 30–50 species in the family Lardizabalaceae (Watson and Dallwitz, 1992; Kofuji et al., 1994; Li et al., 2010; Schweingruber et al., 2011). The family Lardizabalaceae consists of approximately 40 species in seven genera. The genus Akebia is one of these and contains a total of six species (Christenhusz, 2012).

A. quinata was first circumscribed in 1779 as Rajania quinata by Maarten Houttuyn based on a specimen collected by Carl Peter Thunberg in Japan, most likely near Nagasaki (Christenhusz, 2012; Missouri Botanical Garden, 2012).

The name A. quinata var. longiracemosa is not a variety or synonym of A. quinata, but rather a synonym of A. longiracemose.

A. quinata is a liana, a vigorous, woody, deciduous, climbing vine. The stems are greyish brown, slender and cylindrical with small, prominent lenticels that have the shape of a flat ring or disk. Its pale red-brown winter buds' outer scales overlap like roof tiles. The petiole is slender (4.5–10 cm); its petiolules are slender (0.8–1.5(–2.5) cm). The leaves have several leaflets (typically 5–7) whose midribs all radiate from one point. The leaves alternate along the stems or cluster on the branchlets and are divided into five, or sometimes three to four or up to seven leaflets. The papery leaflets are obovate to obovate-elliptic. The leaflets are abaxially glaucous (whitish underneath), adaxially dark green (dark green above) with bases which are rounded to broadly cuneate. The apex, that is the point furthest from the point of attachment, is rounded and usually emarginated (notched) or cuspidate (with a point). The lateral leaflets measure 2–5 x 1.5–2.5 cm, while the terminal leaflets are 2.5–5(–7) cm. The racemes are clustered or bundled together measuring 6–12 cm. The scaly bracts are arranged like roof tiles. The stem that attaches or supports single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence is approximately 2.5 cm and is located on short branches. The small, purple-brown, hanging flowers are held in groups of two to five and have somewhat fragrant chocolate or, in some sources, vanilla scent.

Flowers are monoecious, apetalous, with both staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers appearing in the same raceme. A. quinata produces staminate and pistillate flowers that are found in pendulous, racemose clusters (Payne and Seago, 1968). Male flowers are 4–8(–11) mm. The stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem slender is 7-10 mm with three sepals 3(-5), pale purple, occasionally pale green or white, broadly cucullate-ovate, 6–8 x 4–6 mm, apex rounded. Stamens 6 (or 7), straight at first, incurved at length; filaments very short; anthers oblong. Pistillodes 3–6, small. Female flowers, pedicel slender, 2–4(–5) cm. Sepals dark purple, occasionally green or white, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, 1–2 x 0.8–1.5 cm. Staminode 6–9. Carpels 3–6(–9). The sausage-shaped, purplish pods of the mature fruit are straight or slightly incurved, oblong to ellipsoid, 5–8 x 3–4 cm. Seeds ovoid-oblong, compressed, pulp white; seed coat brown to black, shiny (Brand, 2001; Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 2013; Missouri Botanical Gardens, 2013)

A. quinata is reported to have been introduced into cultivation in the USA 1845 by Robert Fortune during his first visit to China, from the island of Chusan, southeast of Shanghai (Christenhusz and Rix, 2012).

By the mid nineteenth century A. quinata was widely known to ornamental horticulturists in both Europe and the USA. Its ability to rapidly provide cover in either sun or shade for trellises, fences and walls meant that it was sought after as a landscape ornamental (Missouri Botanical Gardens, 2013). A Chicago, Illinois (USA) newspaper extolled the virtues and hardiness of Akebia, along with Clematis and Wisteria (Pomeroy, 1873).

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Natural Dispersal

A. quinata primarily spreads over short distances by vegetative means.

Vector Transmission

Birds, animals and human are all involved in seed dispersal (Li et al., 2010).

Intentional Introduction

A. quinata is readily available in the garden and landscape trade and horticultural industry in North America and Europe and as a result is intentionally introduced into new areas (BALKEP, 2014; Dave’s Garden, 2014; Royal Horticultural Society, 2014).

Impact on Habitats

A. quinata outcompetes indigenous species through its suppression of light, its consumption of water, nutrients and space (ISSG, 2012).

Impact on Biodiversity

A. quinata is reported to outcompete and displace native plant species thereby decreasing biodiversity (ISSG, 2012).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Tolerant of shade
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Fast growing
• Reproduces asexually
• Has high genetic variability

• Altered trophic level
• Damaged ecosystem services
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of hydrology
• Modification of nutrient regime
• Modification of successional patterns
• Negatively impacts forestry
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of endangered species
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - shading
• Competition - smothering
• Competition - strangling
• Rapid growth

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Economic Value

A. quinata is a specimen plant used in ornamental gardens and managed landscapes (Brand, 2001; Missouri Botanical Gardens, 2013; Dave’s Garden, 2014; Royal Horticultural Society, 2014). A. quinata is used as a ground cover and climbing ornamental specimen. The use of Akebia as an ornamental has a long history in the USA. The leaves of A. quinata may be mixed in salads or used fresh and dry for tea and in herb vinegar mixtures. The bitter skin of the fruit reportedly can be fried and eaten. The peeled stems are very pliable and can be used in basket making (BALKEP, 2014).

Social Benefit

In China, the fruits of Akebia species including A. quinata have a use in traditional medicines in which urinary tract infections, scanty lactation and rheumatoid arthritis are treated. In addition, the fruits have been shown to have stimulatory effects on blood circulation and to have anticancer properties (Li et al., 2010). A. quinata seeds produce an oil used in traditional soap making in China (Zheng et al., 2006).