Stauntonia hexaphylla (Thunb.) Decne.

An evergreen twining climber. It can grow 10-13 m long. It spreads 3-5 m wide. The leaves occur alternately. They are compound leaves with 3-7 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaflets are 10 cm long. The flowers are bell-shaped and 2 cm across. They are white with a mauve flush. Plants are separately male and female. The fruit are 5 cm long and oval reddish-purple berries. They have a juicy, sweet flavour.

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. They do best with a long, hot summer. They need some shelter from wind and strong sun. They do best in a moist, well-drained humus rich soil. In Japan it grows on the edge of forests between 200-1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.

The ripe fruit can be eaten fresh. They can also be boiled to soften them.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Cuttings should be of half-ripened wood. Seed can take a long time to germinate.