Schisandra chinensis (Five-flavor Berry)

Schisandra spp.

magnolia vine

Schisandraceae

Eastern Asia and southeastern North America

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunPart Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Schisandra spp. is a genus of about 25 woody, twining deciduous and semi-evergreen climbers in the family Schisandraceae, native to eastern Asia and the southeastern United States. A widely grown species is S. chinensis, the source of the five-flavor berry used in herbal medicine. Stems twine to 15-30 feet (4.5-9 m) into trees and onto supports, with oval to elliptic leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long that are glossy green and turn yellow in autumn on deciduous species. Most species are dioecious, carrying small, cup-shaped, fragrant cream to pink flowers about 0.5 inch (12 mm) across in spring. Female plants produce drooping spikes of red berries in late summer and autumn. The vines grow in moist woodland and along stream banks, and need a male and a female plant for fruiting. Without support the stems scramble over the ground rather than climbing.

Native Range

Native to eastern and Southeast Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and the Himalayas, with one species (S. glabra) in the southeastern United States. Grows in moist deciduous and mixed woodland, forest margins, and along stream banks in humus-rich soil.

Suggested Uses

Grown on trellises, pergolas, fences, and into trees in woodland and shade gardens, spaced 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) apart. Female plants with a pollinating male are grown for the red berries used in herbal preparations. The vigorous twining stems make the vines unsuited to small supports.

How to Identify

Identified by woody twining stems and oval to elliptic glossy leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. Small cup-shaped cream to pink fragrant flowers about 0.5 inch (12 mm) across appear in spring, and female plants bear drooping spikes of red berries. The twining habit and red berry spikes separate Schisandra spp. from related Kadsura spp., which carries berries in rounded heads.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 30'

Width/Spread6' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Spring

Fragrant flowers open in spring, roughly April to June depending on climate and species. Flowering lasts about two weeks. On female plants pollinated flowers develop into red berry spikes that ripen from late summer into autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Cream to pink

Foliage Description

Glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Vines grow in partial shade with the roots in cool, moist, humus-rich soil and the stems reaching toward light, matching woodland-edge conditions. Soil is kept evenly moist, as plants suffer in dry ground. A trellis, pergola, or host tree supports the twining stems. Both a male and a female plant are required for berry production. Deciduous species are hardy in USDA zones 4-8, while semi-evergreen species need milder winters. Few pests trouble the vines, though leaves may scorch in full afternoon sun.

Pruning

Prune in late winter to thin crowded stems and to fit the plant to its support. Tangled or wayward shoots can be shortened after flowering. Hard pruning is tolerated and resprouts from older wood.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Unknown

Vine