chocolate vine: Akebia quinata (Ranunculales: Lardizabalaceae)

chocolate vine
Ranunculales > Lardizabalaceae > Akebia quinata (Houtt.) Dcne.
Synonym(s): fiveleaf akebia
Chocolate vine, also called fiveleaf akebia, is a deciduous to evergreen climbing or trailing vine that invades forested areas throughout the eastern United States. The twining vines are green when young, turning brown with age. The leaves are palmately compound with up to five, 1.5 to 3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long, oval leaflets. Flowering occurs in the mid-spring, when small, purple to red, fragrant flowers develop. Fruit are purple seed pods that contain white pulp and small black seeds. Fruits are rarely produced. Chocolate vine is shade tolerant and invades forested habitats. The dense mat of vines formed can displace native understory species. It can also climb into, smother, and kill small trees and shrubs. Chocolate vine is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1845 as an ornamental.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 1 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Foliage; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Stem(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Stem(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Fruit(s); immature James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Nancy Fraley, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org 768x512	Seedling(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Fruit(s); immature fruit James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Shep Zedaker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Shep Zedaker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; dormant season Shep Zedaker, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Steve Manning, Invasive Plant Control, Bugwood.org
Infestation; Steve Manning, Invasive Plant Control, Bugwood.org

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Georgia - EPPC list
Kentucky - EPPC List
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.