Schisandra chinensis ( Five Flavour Berry ) is a deciduous, woody vine that is native to the colder climates of Russia, China, Korea and Japan. The Five Flavour Berry is named for its combined culinary elements that include salty, sweet, sour, spicy and bitter all in one. Plants are cold and drought tolerant and come with a range of medicinal benefits.
Suitable for Cold and Temperate climates.
Other common names for Schisandra chinensis include Magnolia Berry, Five Flavour Fruit, Northern Five Flavour Berry, Omija, Magnolia Vine, Chinese Magnolia Vine and simply Schisandra.
When produced in large commercial settings, Schisandra plants are grown with similar characteristics to those of grapes in vineyards.
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Growth
Schisandra chinensis is a perennial vine that grows vigorously to a maximum length of around 9 metres (29 feet) but can sometimes reach 25 metres (82 feet) in the wild. The species is dioecious, meaning not self fertile, and requires a male and female plant to cross-pollinate. Flowers on a female plant will only produce fruit when exposes to the pollen from a male plant.
Leaves are oval shaped up to 11 cm (4 inches) long and 7 cm (3 inches) wide with the petioles having a slight red colouring. Five Flavour Berry plants are extremely hardy and once established are low maintenance and produce a huge number of red berries during early Autumn. After fruiting, it is recommended to prune back the vines of the plant to encourage growth once the warmer seasons return.
When grown from seed, the Five Flavour Berry can take between 4-5 years to begin flowering and fruiting.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Schisandraceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-25°C to 30°C / -14 to 86°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well-draining, 50/50 sand and soil.
LOCATION:
Full Sun – Light Shade.
HEIGHT:
Up to 9 metres (29 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 5 metres (16 feet)
pH:
6.5-7.5
GROWTH TYPE:
Deciduous.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low-Medium.
POLLINATION:
Pollinated by Bees.
MATURITY:
4-5 years.
GERMINATION RATES:
55-65%
GERMINATION TIME:
Soak for 24 hours
Cold Stratification – 8 weeks and then 3-4 weeks germination
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Medium to Hard. Cold stratification & patience required.
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 40
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes.
WEED POTENTIAL:
No.
EDIBLE:
Yes.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 5 years.
FACTS ABOUT SCHISANDRA CHINENSIS ( Five Flavour Berry )
Schisandra is sometimes nicknamed the Chinese Prozac in China where it is also used as an aphrodisiac. The Ainu people called the plant repnihat and used it for colds and sea-sickness.
In 1998, Russia released a postage stamp depicting Schisandra chinesis.
Schisandra chinensis has recently experienced a surge in popularity due to its wide range of traditional medicinal uses. Alternative and folklore treatments for motion sickness, mental performance, anti-ageing, liver function, libido and many others have turned the humble Five Flavour Berry into a household name.
For more information on the health benefits of the Five Flavour Berry click here.
