Akebia Flowers

Some of my favorite plants are the hardy vines in the family Lardizabalaceae, which contains a handful of genera such as Akebia and Holboellia. The vines add a tropical feel to the temperate garden. Akebia quinata is in full bloom currently, scrambling through a tall stand of arrow bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica), covered with hundreds of intensely purple pendant flowers. They can develop interesting edible fruit which are said to resemble sausages with a blandly sweet interior. Mine have never set fruit, but the flowers and foliage are more than enough to enjoy.