Ampelopsis japonica

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

Ampelopsis japonica is a deciduous Climber growing to 10 m (32ft 10in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Mountain sides. Usually climbing into trees and shrubs on hillsides and thickets, also found on grasslands, at elevations of 100 - 900 metres.

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The roots are anodyne, antibacterial, anticonvulsive, antifungal, bitter, cooling, depurative, expectorant, febrifuge and vulnerary. A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of tuberculous cervical nodes, bleeding from haemorrhoids and burn injuries.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.

Depurative: Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Vulnerary: Promotes the healing of wounds.

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Prefers a deep rich loam in a warm sheltered position in sun or semi-shade. Requires plenty of root room. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun. Plants rarely produce fruit in Britain except after a long hot summer. Plants are occasionally cultivated in Japan for medicinal purposes. The shoots have sticky pads and are self-supporting on walls. Another report says that plants climb by means of coiling tendrils but large plants often need tying in to support the weight of foliage.

Propagating it: Seed - sow in pots in a cold frame in the autumn or stratify for 6 weeks at 5°c and sow in the spring. Germination can be quite slow, sometimes taking more than a year. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. When they are more than 20cm tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, preferably in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm long, July/August in a frame. Cuttings or eyes in late autumn or winter. Either place them in the ground in a greenhouse or cold frame, or put them in pots. An eye cutting is where you have just one bud at the top and a short length of stem with a small part of the bark removed. These normally root well and grow away vigorously, being ready to plant into their permanent positions the following autumn. Layering into pots in late summer. Partially sever the stem in spring and then lift the new plants in the autumn.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; West Wall. By.

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth:

Soil: Medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

A. serjaniifolia. Bunge. Paullina japonica. Vitis serjaniifolia.