Northwest Blooms · Vines
Akebia quinata 'Alba'
White-flowered Chocolate Vine
- Family
- Lardizabalaceae
- Height
- 10 to 20 ft (or more with support)
- Width
- 8 to 15 ft (on trellis or support)
- Flower color
- Creamy white to pale white blossoms
- Foliage color
- Medium to deep green, compound leaves with five leaflets
- Bloom time
- Early to mid spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture
- Maintenance
- Moderate; provide sturdy support or trellis, prune lightly after flowering or in late winter
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Bees and other spring pollinators; birds may use vine for cover
About this plant
Akebia quinata 'Alba' is a twining deciduous vine with palmately divided, mid-green leaves that create a light, airy canopy through the growing season. In mid to late spring, slender clusters of creamy white flowers appear along the stems, releasing a soft, sweet fragrance that drifts through the garden. The blossoms are followed by elongated seed pods on mature plants, adding interest later in the season.
Native to Japan, China, and Korea, this white-flowered selection has been cultivated for ornamental use for many years. It grows well on trellises, arbors, and fences, where its flexible stems weave easily through supports. Akebia quinata 'Alba' also works as a screening vine, offering seasonal foliage, gentle bloom display, and graceful coverage for garden structures.
Works well in
Arbors & Trellises · Fences & Walls · Vertical Screening · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Boxwood · Hardy geraniums · Hostas
Design tip
Spring bloom is its headline moment, and it reads best in a group rather than as a single plant. Train the main stems early on a trellis or fence so the growth spreads sideways rather than bunching at the top.
