Sausage vine, China blue vine
Holboellia coriacea

Family: Berberidaceae

What it is like

A vigorous climber. It is evergreen. It grows 7 m high. The leaves are compound with 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 6-10 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The fruit are purple and about 5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The pulp is white with black seeds.

There are 11 Holboellia species. They grow in China and Vietnam. Also put in the family Lardizabalaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in mixed forests and on mountain slopes between 500-2,000 m altitude in China. In Sichuan. It suits hardiness zone 7.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Britain, China, Europe

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten. They have little taste.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In China plants flower in April and May and fruit in June to August.

Its other names

Local names

Ying zhao feng

Synonyms

Artabotrys esquirolii H. Leveille; Holboellia brevipes (Hemsley) P. C. Kuo; Holboellia coriacea var. angustifolia Pampanini; Stauntonia brevipes Hemsley;