Other Names:  Five-Flavored Berry, Magnolia Berry

Description:

A vigorous climber, perfect for trellises or arbors; green fragrant leaves and soft pink flowers give way to vibrant clusters of small red berries; also called the five-flavored berry, they tantalize the taste buds while eaten fresh, cooked or preserved

Edible Qualities

Magnolia Vine is a perennial that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces clusters of red round berries which are usually ready for picking from mid summer to early fall. The berries have a pleasant taste.

The berries are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Eating When Cooked/Prepared
• Baking

Features & Attributes

Magnolia Vine is primarily valued in the landscape for its broadly spreading habit of growth. Its fragrant oval compound leaves remain green in color throughout the season. It features an abundance of magnificent red berries from mid summer to early fall.

This is an herbaceous perennial vine with a spreading, ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and may require the occasional pruning to look its best. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Magnolia Vine is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Magnolia Vine will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. As a climbing vine, it should be planted next to a fence, trellis or other rigid structure where it can be trained to grow upwards on it. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 25 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! This is a dioecious species, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. Only the females will produce fruit, and a male variety of the same species is required nearby as a pollinator.

This plant is typically grown in a designated edibles garden. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This species is not originally from North America.