An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

April 1, 2011

Stauntonia hexaphylla

Stauntonia hexaphylla

In the blur of color that is spring, it is easy to be blinded by pink, yellow and white.  If a gardener can see beyond these distractions, then spring's other charms become more apparent.  Stauntonia hexaphylla has interesting evergreen foliage no matter what time of year and reminds me of tropical Schefflera, or of something else that will not grow here.  However, when the new growth emerges in March it is a distinct amber color before it darkens to a cool blue-green.  Stauntonia is listed as growing 20-30', but I saw one at Taylor's Nursery in Raleigh that had nearly reached the top of a very tall radio antenna tower.  It is also listed as preferring full sun to light shade, but mine only gets winter sun being shaded by a large oak the rest of the year, and it has apparently not been slowed.  I regularly have to unwrap or trim the vine from patio furniture.  It is listed as hardy in USDA zones 7 to 8, and it has shown a remarkable degree of drought tolerance as well.

Stauntonia hexaphylla (2)

Stauntonia hexaphylla

Though I grow it for it's foliage, it also has a flower, but mine has never bloomed.  I think this may have more to do with the age of mine than the shade, because I have seen a specimen in the display garden at work flower in almost total shade.  Flowers normally occur later in the spring and their delicate appearance and white pastel-purple color seem in contrast to the the vine's vigorous, near thug-like nature.  I have never seen fruit on any local plant, but it is listed as having a red-purple fruit that resembles a sausage.  Pictures remind me of Akebia quinata fruit, which is in the same family (Lardizabalaceae) as Stauntonia.  In Japan, where this plant is native, the fruit is a prized delicacy. 

(photo from Wikipedia Commons)
If you would like to have a Stauntonia vine of your very own, good luck.  I have not been able to find any to sell at the garden center in nearly 10 years, which is a real shame.  I do know the seeds take years to germinate, but considering its vigor, it should be easy to propagate from cuttings.  Perhaps its narrow hardiness range and lack of a catchy common name limit its appeal to wholesale growers.  Maybe a marketing campaign is called for.

23 comments:

  1. Very interesting. Never even heard of it before.

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  2. It does have a pretty flower-- fragrant too. You should wage your campaign. Add Peony 'Charlie's White' to the campaign....having a devil of a time getting one.

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  3. I've never heard of it either. Nice flowers.

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  4. Dear Les, Another reason I wish I lived in a warmer zone - I like this vine. The flowers are lovely. P.

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  5. The composition of http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4485910106_ffc1a087f9_z.jpg is fantastic!

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  6. Really lovely...definiltely reminds me of Shefflera.

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  7. This is a new one on me but that's no surprise as THE BOSS has labeled me botanically challenged.

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  8. I haven't heard of this plant before ~ the leaves are lovely. I'm not too keen on adding another rambunctious vine however, with all of the vines we have here already growing wild.

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  9. Always amazes me that good plants escape wider distribution. Usually some gnarly propagation issue.

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  10. What a lovely looking plant. I used to grow Akebia quinata, and loved the scented flowers, but it tended to lose a lot of its leaves and the remainder would go very tatty over winter, not to mention its tendencies to take over... Shame, because it too had very lovely leaves when they were fresh!

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  11. Wonderful plant, for me this one was unknown too, but what a beauty it is! Your photos are so bright and shining again my friend, great job!

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  12. I'm guessing vigorous vine is not a good selling point. But It's nice to see someone else growing it :)

    By the way, thanks for your recommendation regarding the Camellia sasanqua 'Snow Flurry' . The pictures look really pretty. I ordered one today.

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  13. This is a new one to me! Very pretty blooms...

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  14. What a shame that a beautiful plant like this is not more commonly available! The leaves and flowers are so pretty.

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  15. Les, I thought I had to have this beautiful vine but what you described reminds me of Little Shop of Horrors... if you saw that movie. I have no structures like a radio antenna to support a Stauntonia hexaphylla, however, I'd like to come to your house and get cuttings every spring for flower arranging! It is gorgeous!

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  16. I thought it looked like Shefflera too since I am unfamiliar with it. It really has pretty flowers. I see some nice light images here. I bet you have a good one planned.

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  17. I appreciate learning about this new plant. Well, new to me anyway. Love the foliage, love the flowers and I hope there are some in your future.

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  18. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate them.

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  19. It's available through Raintree Nursery in Morton, Washington. I ran across your blog as I was trying to more info before ordering one.

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  20. Marihelen,
    Thanks for letting me know. Maybe if anyone else wants to order one that will help.

    Les

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  21. Come and live in New Zealand - I bought one of these vines here about 5 years ago. It fruited for the first time last year (2 fruits). this year (we are just in our autumn) it has 9 fruits and I don't know if there is another vine locally which could be a pollinator. My husband suggests that I may have bought a new variety that is self-pollinating.

    All info I have seen says the fruit is 3-5 cm long. New Zealand must have something going for it - or perhaps it is the constant earthquakes we are having here, but my fruits are 8-9 cm long.

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  22. Hi! I live in Belgium and I have bought a Stauntonia as well. Surprisingly I found one, cause they're quite difficult to find.
    Does anyone know how to recognize a male or a female plant? I don't have a clue which I have, but I'd like to know...

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