Kadsura heteroclita

Kadsura heteroclita is a vine that stays green all year. It belongs to the Schisandraceae family. It comes from southern Asia. Its range reaches southern China and western Malesia. It grows in warm temperate zones and the wet tropics. Wild plants climb through shrubs and trees or spread over rocks. They grow in mountain woods, deep gorges and near rivers.

Its stems twine to form a large, strong garden climber. Garden plants reach 26–39 feet [8–12 metres] tall. They can spread 13–26 feet [4–8 metres] wide. They take about five to ten years to reach full size. The dark green leaves are glossy and oval. Each leaf can reach about 0.52 feet [0.16 metres] long. The leaves give walls and borders cover all year.

Flowers with a scent hang from long stalks in summer. They range from white through cream to yellow. Each flower has up to 25 sepals. Flowers grow on stems made that year. Large clusters of bright red fruit follow in autumn. Each round fruit is an aggregate, made of small parts called apocarps. Each apocarp holds one or two seeds. In wetter parts of the south, blooms and fruit may form year-round. Useful Tropical Plants says the species is not self-fertile.

Give this vine a site with shelter and rich soil. The soil should drain well but stay moist, not waterlogged. The RHS accepts full sun or part shade. Useful Tropical Plants favours part shade. The RHS lists chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It also accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soils. Its H4 rating shows the cold it can bear in the UK: about −10 to −5°C. Useful Tropical Plants notes that it grows well in western Britain's sea-influenced climate. The vine suits informal gardens and borders beside walls. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer to grow new plants. The RHS sets pruning for late winter or early spring. Useful Tropical Plants says it needs no routine pruning. The RHS reports few problems with pests or disease.

People gather wild fruit to eat fresh or cooked. It tastes sweet, with hints of citrus and mild pepper. Useful Tropical Plants also lists the seeds as safe to eat. That source lists no known hazards. This does not prove that all uses are safe for everyone. People in southern Asia have long used roots and stems as folk remedies. They use them for pain, gut complaints and problems with periods. These records show folk use, not proven health benefits.