Chocolate Vine

The Fiveleaf akebia, also called chocolate vine, is a deciduous to evergreen climbing or trailing vine that invades forested areas throughout the eastern United States. The twining vines are green when young, turning brown with age. The leaves are palmately compound with up to five small (1 � to 3 inches long) oval leaflets.

The Flowers are chocolate-purple in color, inconspicuous, and give way to purple flattened seed pods. Fiveleaf akebia is shade tolerant and invades forested habitats. The dense mat of vines formed can displace native understory species. It can also climb into, smother, and kill small trees and shrubs. Fiveleaf akebia is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1845 as an ornamental.

Habitat:

It is shade and drought tolerant and can invade many forest habitats. Its growth appears to be restricted only by the height of the object it is entangling.

Ecological Impacts:

The dense mat of vines formed can displace native understory species. It can also climb into, smother, and kill small trees and shrubs. It grows so quickly that, if left unmanaged, it can kill off existing ground level vegetation, understory shrubs and trees, and even some canopy trees, by overtopping and smothering them. Once established, its dense growth prevents seed germination and seedling establishment of native plants.

Control and Management:

� Manual- Cut to the ground; dig up; remove roots; repeated throughout the season.

� Chemical- It can be effectively controlled using any of several readily available general use herbicides such as glyphosate or triclopyr. Follow label and state requirements.