What does it look like?
Akebia, also called Chocolate vine, grows as a twining vine or ground cover. It has five oval-shaped leaflets (each 3cm long) that meet at a central stem to create a hand shape. From August to October, it has chocolate/purple-coloured flowers, which have an odour that is similar to chocolate or vanilla. The fruits are purple-violet, sausage-shaped pods up to 100mm long. Akebia grows in open to semi-shaded sites along forest edges or roadsides, where it climbs over structures or trees.
Why is it a problem?
Akebia grows rapidly (up to 6-14m in a single growing season) to form dense patches that out-compete and kill ground cover, shrubs, and young trees. It’s tolerant to shade, drought, and frost, and can invade a range of habitats. Once established, its dense growth prevents seed germination and seedling establishment of native plants. Akebia mainly spreads vegetatively (e.g. from plant fragments or rooting stems). Its high growth rate also means infestations grow rapidly to spread over a wide area. Localised spread can be rapid, but range expansion is relatively slow.
Control methods
Physical control
Dig out individual vines and hand pull seedlings (all year round): Remove root system and dispose of material at refuse transfer station.
Herbicide control
Cut stems (spring-summer): Cut at ground level, then repeat throughout growing season. Or, Spray large infestations (spring-summer): Knapsack spray with glyphosate (300ml/15L + penetrant) or triclopyr 600 EC (60ml/10L + penetrant).
Monitor the site and treat regrowth from roots and seedlings. Search out and remove the source of the infestation. Where appropriate, replant the site with local native species.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
More information
There is only one known site of Akebia/chocolate vine in the region - in the Ashley Clinton area. This is being actively monitored and controlled. We would welcome reports of likely sightings of this vine.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)
The NPPA is designed to prevent the sale, distribution and propagation of a set list of pest plants (the Accord list) within New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage the New Zealand economy and environment.
More informationUnwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
Taxonomies
FamilyLardizabalaceae
TypePlants
GroupClimber
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted Organism
