To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Akebia
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 16:49:39 -0800
Did some work on Akebia one time. It's considered an invasive weed in PA and several states in that area. Not that it produces seedlings that readily, just that one plant grows almost like kudzu - as much as 40 feet a year. Fruit is weird - I've seen it here and it has a purplish-pink look that makes it look like a bruise or a large tumor on a vine. The edible part is the gel around the seeds, which has the consistency of egg white (or if you want to be blunt, like mucus).
It's a pretty ornamental and the flowers come in purple or white, but be prepared to give it room or hack it like crazy.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Feb 1, 2006, at 12:46 PM, bassem@gardener.com wrote:
Chris,
A friend of mine has the vine growing in our area. zone 6 pa, 80 miles north of were you are. It's perfectly hardy here. It actually became invasive for him. Plant it in a place that it can be controled. I doesn't seem to be very productive.. but it will bloom. it possibly needs cross pollination.
Hope that helps