Habitat

• native to Japan, Korea, and Manchuria
• zone 4

Habit and Form

• a twining vine; requires support
• deciduous
• a very fast-growing plant (15' to 20' per year)
• medium to coarse texture
• 25' to 30'; may be limited only by the height of its support

Summer Foliage

• alternate, simple, unlobed leaves with sharp serrations; 3" to 5" long
• lustrous, unmarred dark green color

Autumn Foliage

• very late to color and drop leaves
• usually remains green, may turn yellowish

Flowers

• whitish-green with purple anthers; 0.80" across
• in clusters at leaf axils, hidden by leaves
• fragrant
• June-July
• dioecious

Fruit

• berry, 1" long, fleshy, greenish
• edible but not very flavorful
• male and female plants needed for fruit set

Bark

• brownish, with many lenticels

Culture

• best grown in infertile soil to slow its growth
• can be pruned any time of year
• requires a strong support, as the vines are heavy

Landscape Uses

• useful where quick foliage cover is desired

Liabilities

• may outgrow it's boundaries if not pruned vigilantly

ID Features

• a twining vine
• leaf scar is raised, looks like an eyeball

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

Many cultivars are noted for different fruit characters, however only 'Issai' is commonly available. This form is perfect-flowered and requires no pollinator to set abundant crops of fruit.