Akebia quinata, commonly known as chocolate vine, five-leaf chocolate vine, or five-leaf akebia, is a shrub that is native to Japan, China and Korea, and invasive in the eastern United States from Georgia to Michigan to Massachusetts.

Akebia quinata grows to 10 m (30 ft) or more in height. The flowers are clustered in racemes and are chocolate-scented, with three or four sepals.

Akebia prefers sandy soils with good drainage, and regular watering, though it is drought-resistant.

Type: Hardy vine

Hardiness zones: 5-10

Seeds per pack: 5

Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. Lightly scarify seeds with a nail file, and soak in warm water for 24 hours. Surface sow seeds in a pot, mist the soil and sprinkle a small amount of sand or seed-starting soil over seeds. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 4-5 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally 60-120 days after the warming period, though it can vary.