Practical
Plants

Actinidia polygama

Silver Vine

a deciduous member of the Actinidia genus in the family Actinidiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Height
6 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees, Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees, Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[9]. Not very palatable, it is eaten salted[6][8]. Some cultivars have nice flavoured fruits[9]. The fruit contains up to 5 times the vitamin C. of blackcurrants[19]. Fairly large fruits, up to 3cm across[12]. It contains a number of small seeds, but these are easily eaten with the fruit[K]. Leaves - raw or cooked[16][18][2][8][9]. The leaves can also be roasted and mixed with tea[9].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are hallucinogenic and sedative[10]. The leaves contain substances that make them very attractive to cats and for this reason they are especially useful as a sedative for lions etc in zoos[10]. When consumed in large quantities the leaves can have a mild hallucinatory effect[10]. Polygamol, which is made from the fruits, is used as a heart tonic[13]. A dry decoction is used to treat colic and rheumatism[13].

Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Sedative

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan
Habitat
Woodlands and hedges in mountains throughout Japan[17].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[5]. It is probably best if the seed is given 3 months stratification[3], either sow it in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in November or as soon as it is received. Fresh seed germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°c, stored seed can take longer[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. When the plants are 30cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[K]. Most seedlings are male[4]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, they must be kept well ventilated[3]. Cuttings of softwood as soon as ready in spring in a frame[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very high percentage[3]. Cuttings of ripe wood, October/November in a frame.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sound loamy neutral soil[1][12]. Succeeds in semi-shade but full sun is best for fruit production[12]. Prefers a sheltered position[12]. Plants are hardy to about -30°c. when dormant but young growth in spring can be cut back by late frosts[7]. Fruits are formed on second year wood and also on fruit spurs on older wood[4], any pruning is best carried out in the winter[14]. The flowers are fragrant[15]. This is a climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around branches etc[12]. The plant is very attractive to cats and can be damaged by them[19][6][12]. This species has been confused in literature with A. kolomikta[11]. It is closely related but can be distinguished by the leaves which are tapered at the base whilst those of A. kolomikta are heart-shaped[14]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[12]. One report suggests that plants are self-fertile whilst another says that they are dioecious. It is likely that most plants are dioecious but that there are some self-fertile hermaphrodite forms. A cultivar named 418-77 is self-fertile[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985. Royal Horticultural Society 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Wilson. E. H. and Trollope. M. N. Corean Flora. Royal Asiatic Society 1918-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

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  8. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Li. H. L. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Volume 32. Arnold Arboretum. 1952-00-00

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  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  13. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  14. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  16. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  17. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  19. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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