Stauntonia hexaphylla

The Stauntonia hexaphylla is a luxuriant and evergreen climbing plant that is suitable for most temperate climates. This Japanese and Korean species is distinguished by its beautiful lobed foliage, which is a shiny dark green, somewhat reminiscent of chestnut or Akebia leaves. Its extraordinary, scented spring flowering takes the form of small white-cream bell-shaped flowers that turn violet over time. A few edible, juicy and purple fruits are produced during the hottest summers. This exuberant plant will bring an exotic touch and a lot of character to shaded areas of the garden.

The Stauntonia hexaphylla belongs to the family Lardizabalaceae. This climbing plant is monoecious (with male and female flowers on single plants) and originates from southern Japan and Korea, where it grows in dense forests at low altitudes. It is an evergreen woody vine that can reach a height of 10m (33ft) and a width of 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft). Its growth is rapid. The young branches and stems are green and striated, while the older branches are covered in rough grey-brown bark. Its leaves are compound, consisting of 6-7 ovate to elliptical leaflets, measuring 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) in length and 2.5 to 4.5cm (1 to 2in) in width, each carried by a long petiole. They are amber-coloured in spring, dark greenish-blue, glossy, and have a leathery appearance. This plant produces either male or female flowers at the beginning of spring, which have different appearances. The female flowers are whitish-green, with slightly striated purple sepals, while the male flowers are more colourful. They are all deliciously scented and appear as campanulate bell-shaped flowers measuring 4cm (2in) in length, composed only of sepals with a waxy texture. The flowers are grouped in clusters. The flowering is followed, in warm climates, by the formation of a few purple fruits in autumn, measuring 5 to 6cm (2in) in length, oval and verrucate, which are edible and highly valued in Japan.

The Stauntonia hexaphylla transports the gardener, through its fragrance, to distant horizons, and if allowed, it will vigorously climb to the tops of trees, perfuming a whole area of the garden and extending beyond fences. It requires a very sheltered position under most temperate climates, although some reliable sources have observed that it can tolerate temperatures as low as -8°C (17.6°F). By training the voluble stems as they grow, this shade-loving plant can be used to cover a garden shelter, a shaded pergola, a large north-facing wall, or even an imposing tree that may look a bit sad in winter, such as a cedar. However, its strong personality and vigour allow for few associations with other climbers, except perhaps for a pairing with a Clematis terniflora or vitalba, which have a very wild appearance.