Japanese Staunton Vine

Stauntonia hexaphylla is an elegant and vigorous evergreen climber from East Asia that is perfectly suited to milder UK gardens. It features handsome, leathery, dark green leaves divided into six leaflets, providing dense year-round coverage. In spring, it produces clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers that are creamy-white flushed with purple and have a delicious, sweet fragrance. If the summer is warm enough and another plant is nearby for pollination, it can produce unusual, edible, purple-stained fruits. It is a large climber, reaching up to 10 metres, and is best grown over a sturdy pergola or a south-facing wall. While it is hardy (H4), it can be sensitive to very cold winds, so a sheltered position is recommended in the UK. Its lush, tropical appearance makes it a fantastic architectural plant for adding a vertical dimension to a courtyard or woodland garden. Minimum pruning is required, just enough to keep it within its space.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Apr, May.