Native Plant Alternatives to Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine)

Akebia quinata, commonly known as five-leaf akebia or chocolate vine, is considered an invasive species in several regions, including parts of the United States.

Akebia quinata is native to East Asia, and it’s a vigorous, woody vine that can grow rapidly, often smothering and outcompeting native vegetation. Its invasive potential is heightened by its ability to grow in a wide range of light and soil conditions, its rapid growth rate, and its prolific seed production.

Furthermore, Akebia quinata has a unique reproductive strategy which contributes to its invasiveness. It is capable of self-fertilization, which means a single plant can establish a new population. Its seeds are also spread by birds and mammals, which can result in the plant invading new areas.

Chocolate Vine is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.