Schisandra chinensis, commonly known as the Magnolia vine, is one of the most ornamental edible vines you could ever wish to grow. Scratch the bark and an intense, clean fragrance that's a combination of Daphne odora and lime peel will greet your nose. The flowers of the Magnolia vine are insignificant, but the 4" clusters of bright red berries are gorgeous. Known as Wu Wei Zi in Mandarin (the title means five taste fruit), Schisandra berries are one of the 50 essential ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Fresh Schisandra berries are much better tasting than the dried fruit, although both fresh and dried fruit are packed with nutrition. That said, the fresh berries are unpalatable to some. For information on the medicinal qualities of the Magnolia vine, read more at Plants for a Future, a wonderful resource for information on edible and medicinal plants. Most Schisandra plants are dioecious, meaning you need a male and a female plant to set fruit, but this is not the case with our offering, below. Bay Flora Magnolia vines are pesticide-free. Our plants are beginning to show signs of salt damage on their leaves due to our irrigation water, but new growth will be fine if hard water is avoided for irrigation. Zones 4-9. Shipping is 25% to CA, 30% to OR and WA, and 35% to rest of U.S. Sorry, no shipping to AK, FL, HI. Orders received by 5 PM on Friday are shipped the following Monday. |
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| Schisandra chinensis 'Eastern Prince' This Magnolia vine is a deciduous, twining, woody vine to about 20 feet, with unexceptional flowers and remarkable clusters of shiny red berries in late summer. Schisandra chinensis 'Eastern Prince' is an excellent choice for a shady nook or an east wall in hot summer areas. The Magnolia vine prefers a rich, moisture-retentive soil and adequate water during the growing season. It is also very sensitive to salts in your water supply or fertilizer, so leach the roots regularly if this is a problem. Tell-tale salt damage is usually found on the leaf margins, which turn light brown. Although it's a reasonably fast grower and can put on 3' or so during the growing season, it will take a few years to fruit. The good news is that Schisandra chinensis Eastern Prince doesn't need a pollinator since it has both male and female flowers on each plant. So add some beauty and health to the world and grow this magnificent species. Hardy to about 0 degrees. Well-established plants in 1 gal containers, 2 feet tall. OUT OF STOCK UNTIL FALL 2008. | |
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