Kadsura longepedunculata

Kadsura longepedunculata is a climber from China that stays green all year. Plants For A Future places it in eastern Asia. It lists provinces in western, central, southern and eastern China. Wild plants grow by streams and in damp, shaded spots. They also grow in woods and on slopes below 3,280 feet [1,000 metres]. These sites help show what it needs in gardens.

The plant grows about 11.5 feet [3.5 metres] tall. It keeps its leaves all year. Its climbing form suits the edges of woodland gardens. Plants For A Future lists both sunny and shaded woodland edges. It also lists sites with dappled shade. The supplied species account gives no details of leaves or bark. The RHS puts this species in the Schisandraceae family.

Plants For A Future gives July to September for bloom. Male flowers and female flowers grow on separate plants. One plant cannot set seed on its own. Both sexes must grow together to form seeds and fruit. Seeds ripen from October to December. The round fruit measures about 0.6–1.4 inches across. People can eat the fruit raw or cooked. The source scores it two out of five for food use.

In gardens, this plant needs moist soil that drains well. The species account lists sand, loam and clay as suitable soils. Soil can range from mildly acid to neutral. Plants can grow in part shade or full sun. The supplied account is unclear on hardiness in Britain. Its fuller notes on shelter and pruning cover the genus. Those notes do not show what this species needs. The evidence does not support a firm hardiness zone.

Plants For A Future says to sow fresh seed in autumn. It advises use of a cold frame for sowing. Young plants spend their first winter in a greenhouse. They move outdoors in early summer and need cover the next winter. The account also lists half-ripe cuttings and layering in autumn. It records uses of fruit, roots, stems and leaves as medicine. These uses cover coughs, pain, gas and congestion. Such records do not prove that these uses work or give safe doses. The source reports no known hazards but gives no safety tests. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases for this species.