This year for the first time the Akebia quinata growing at the base of the large sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) at the bottom of our garden has born numerous curious looking fruits.
Also known as the Chocolate Vine, here it was in full bloom a few months ago during the spring...
I'm not sure what triggered it to produce so many fruits this year. We have three other Akebias in the garden but two are still small and have yet to produce blooms while a mature one didn't bloom this year (or perhaps it did, I couldn't remember!). It is however on this site for many years now so perhaps maturity is a big factor.
The fruits are the size of plums and ripe ones split open to reveal seeds.
Now is it edible? A quick search online suggested it is and I have given the inner pulp a little taste and it was sweet, reminding me of custard.
It is very pretty in it's own right and perhaps best left to be admired as an ornamental plant curiosity rather than for consumption.
After a few days the core of seeds fall off as a whole. Will we be weeding out hundreds of Akebia seedlings next year? We'll just have to wait and see!
Pretty isn't it?
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
That's crazy! I had no idea. Interesting they taste sweet....thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteA pleasure!
DeleteI like it! Very pretty color. Did you taste one that had already split open, or did you open it yourself? I'd be wary of eating a split one due to fruit flies and other tiny critters.
ReplyDeleteA recently split one Alan, perhaps the man reason why I only tried a bit just in case. I think it's ripe when it splits, I may be wrong though.
DeleteVery pretty. And curious. Brave of you to try it..
ReplyDeleteIndeed :) still alive here...
DeleteMysterious and beautiful surprise!
ReplyDeleteIndeed :)
DeleteHi Mark, never consciously seen this plant and therefore, of course, the same goes for the fruits. But they are indeed quite beautiful and the same goes for the seeds. The hobby florist in me wonders if the fruits and seeds could be used for a unique autumn decoration of a table setting?
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Christina
Pretty while hanging but may not make a graceful transition to a table or vase display. Will see how it looks like once the fruits dry up!
DeleteThey are strange-looking, but rather beautiful, as well. The akebia at Cistus was loaded with fruit this year. Some of them were born in groups and held like six-pointed stars. Very pretty. They've all fallen off now, and look and feel a bit like pigs ears. Something odd and leathery, at least.
ReplyDeleteYikes, not so pretty when dry then. Curious things!
DeleteFascinating! I always thought the plant was pretty but hadn't previously seen the fruit.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed it will fruit each year now :)
DeleteSeeing your photos and reading Evan's comment has me wishing I'd seen the one at Cistus. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteIndeed :) surprised you didn't spot it at Cistus.
DeleteVery pretty indeed! A plant which tastes of custard? That's got to be a winner.
ReplyDeleteVery unusual. It's too bad the seeds fall out; the fruit would be even more ornamental if they stayed in place.
ReplyDeleteHello Mark and Gaz, am glad you reminded me that you are still blogging, i was absent for some months and now regaining my blogging friends again. That plant and fruits are really interesting, Maybe those are intended for the birds while in the wild. Which country is it native from?
ReplyDeleteQuite cool! I had never seen the fruit before.
ReplyDeleteYou know you can eat them. There is a recipe to cook them stuffed with mushrooms (filling done with chicken/onions/mushroom). It IS very good !
ReplyDeleteI had no idea they produced fruit! I used to grow one on the pergola in my previous garden, and loved the flowers, but it always got really tatty over the winter so I gave up on it. You've reminded me that I always really loved it in every other season. I could probably grow it really well here in my sheltered back garden...
ReplyDelete