A Fast-Growing Vine That Can Quickly Take Over Your Yard
Five-leaf akebia — also called chocolate vine — may sound charming, but this fast-growing ornamental can quickly overwhelm yards, fences, and nearby natural areas. Homeowners often plant it for its fragrant spring flowers, but once it escapes, it becomes a serious management challenge.
What is it? Why don’t we like it?
Five-leaf akebia or Chocolate vine is a woody, climbing vine that can be deciduous or evergreen depending on climate. Its leaves are made up of five rounded leaflets, giving it the “five-leaf akebia” name. In mid-spring, it produces small purple-red flowers with a sweet scent often compared to chocolate.
The problem is how aggressively it grows. A single vine can stretch 20 to 40 feet in one growing season, forming thick mats that smother native plants. It climbs into shrubs and trees, blocking sunlight and eventually killing them. Once established, its dense growth prevents native seeds from germinating — allowing the vine to dominate entire understory areas.
This vine can bury acres of trees, as it has been doing in Occoquan Regional Park. There isn't much of it yet in Fairfax, so now is our chance to jump on it!
How can you remove it?
Controlling this vine takes persistence, but homeowners can get ahead of it, through:
Manual removal:
- Repeated cutting throughout the growing season
- Digging out vines and roots (as much as possible)
- Regular monitoring to catch regrowth early
Chemical control:
For larger infestations, systemic herbicides can be effective. Multiple years of follow-up are usually needed.
Native alternatives
If you love vines but want to avoid invasive species, consider planting:
- Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
These natives provide beauty, wildlife value, and none of the invasive behavior, though they are vigorous plants in a garden setting.
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Source: Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania: Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.