I had one of these vines in partial shade. It was growing up a trellis that eventually disintegrated so I figured this was as good a time...Read More as any to transplant it. It never had bloomed. I transplanted it this July. Not a great time with our hot weather and I eventually cut it back to a few ( now leafless) vines. It took 3 months for it to regrow leaves and it again looks healthy, though of course it is now under a foot tall. I was told that it was quite a slow grower by Dig, the nursery where I originally purchased it.
Got it from Crug Farm in Wales. Planted before the winter. The winter was mild. The only severe weather we got was in late February. Two...Read More days of snowstorm with lowest temp. around -11C/ 12F. Plant was positioned in a protected from wind spot yet top growth above the snow cover was burnt. Crug must have sent me a less hardy strain from a collection from Japan.
I loved that this plant was evergreen, the leaves were lovely, and the flowers were fragrant. However, after two winters, I lost it witho...Read Moreut warning. It lost all of its leaves and never came back.
I have this vine growing in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. It is only 4 years old and is 18 feet high. It likes shade and lots of wa...Read Moreter. The seed pods are purple sausage-like and contain hundreds of seeds. When the "fruit" drops in fall, open the pods, strip out the seeds, wash them free of pulp, dry them and store in jar or envelope. I am growing from seed for the first time this year and if sucessful I will update. My local nursery has taken some of my seeds and they are trying as well.
Easy to grow and as hardy as they come.
UPDATE October 2010
The seeds took 8 weeks (be patient) to germinate in 4" pots but then they took off. The seedlings have spent all summer in 6" pots and are going into the garden soon. Thay look very healty, green and shiny. Fingers crossed for further growth
acquired this plantwhen I was doing a "boutique nursery" for a local hardware store--sought out all sorts of uncommon plants as well as "...Read Moretried&true. Took a long time to find much out about it with the referances I had. BUT it still survives in dry shade at the foot of a Western red cedar. Redmond is probably zone 7. It is somewhat sheltered in its place. It is growing SLOWLY. It is growing on a bright northfacing fence and gets almost no supplemental water. Every so often I take a gallon jug of water with a pinhole in it to drip on it. Based on its fruit I have always considered it akin to the akebia. I note in some referances it is called "China Blue" vine. I had always seen ampelopsis refered to as that common name---based on that kid's blue berries and variegated foliage.
I planted the vine in native soil and have not yet fertilized it. After maybe 8 years (or more) it is twining above the
4 foot fence with a couple of tendrils aiming toward the light. My conclusion is that it is a REALLY TOUGH CHARACTER! Obviously mine has not yet fruited.
cphCharlotte
I had one of these vines in partial shade. It was growing up a trellis that eventually disintegrated so I figured this was as good a time...Read More
Got it from Crug Farm in Wales. Planted before the winter. The winter was mild. The only severe weather we got was in late February. Two...Read More
I loved that this plant was evergreen, the leaves were lovely, and the flowers were fragrant. However, after two winters, I lost it witho...Read More
I have this vine growing in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. It is only 4 years old and is 18 feet high. It likes shade and lots of wa...Read More
acquired this plantwhen I was doing a "boutique nursery" for a local hardware store--sought out all sorts of uncommon plants as well as "...Read More