Kadsura Vine is a flowering, evergreen to semi-evergreen, vigorous vine or shrub native of Japan and Korea. it has a tendency to climb and, in its native woodland environment, will climb surrounding trees. It has glossy, dark green foliage that turns red and purple in fall, but remains on the plant year round. The flowers emit a soft sweet perfume. The attractive leaves and flowers lead to this plants cultivation as an ornamental. Kadsura Vine does best in moist, well-drained, neutral or acidic soil, but tolerates poor soil and will grow in sandy or clay soils. It will grow in full sun or partial shade and requires a sheltered situation away from cold and wind. There are male and female plants and both are needed for production of the edible fruit. Kadsura is not winter hardy and the leaves suffer burns in cold weather. However, the plant can be grown indoors in locations where outdoor temperatures are an issue. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth, which should not be an issue since the plants do not require pruning. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender; Variegated
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Deep green, glossy leaves are irregularly edged in white and turn slightly red in autumn.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower detail
Fragrant white flowers blossom from June to September.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit detail
Kadsura is dioecious (meaning individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant), thus both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The resulting fruits can be eaten raw or cooked.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Korea, South Japan to Taiwan
Wildlife value
The larvae of the moth Caloptilia kadsurae feed on this plant.