Common Name:

General Information

Stauntonia hexaphylla is an evergreen climbing shrub with woody stems up to 10 metres long that twine into the surrounding vegetation for support.
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine, and also for use as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations. It is sometimes cultivated as a fruit crop in Japan and is also often grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - central and southern Japan, South Korea.

Habitat

Thickets and woodland in lowland from central Japan southwards[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Stauntonia hexaphylla is native to the warm temperate and subtropical climates of southern Japan. It is not very cold-hardy, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to about -10°c when the plant is fully dormant[, , , ]. The young growth in spring, however, is more sensitive to cold and can be damaged by late frosts.
Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil in a sheltered position[]. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils, in full sun or in semi-shade[]. It grows best if its roots are in a shady position and the top is allowed to grow into the sun[].
A very ornamental plant[].
The flowers have a pleasant sweet perfume[].
A climbing plant that supports itself by twining around other plants and supports[].
Plants are dioecious but females have borne fruit at times in the absence of a male pollinator[, ]. In Britain fruit is usually only formed in sunny summers[, ]. Hand pollination may improve fruit set[]. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , ]. Sweet and watery[] with a honey-like flavour[], it is highly esteemed as a dessert fruit in Japan[]. The fruit is up to 5cm long[].

Medicinal

The roots, stem and fruits are analgesic, antirheumatic, diuretic and sedative[, ]. The juice of the fruit is used in the treatment of ophthalmia[].

Other Uses

An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors[].
Cuttings.