Chinese Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) 12 seeds

Schisandra chinensis - Chinese Magnolia Vine - 12 seeds

Originates from the Far East and grows in higher altitude areas. Schisandra chinensis, also known as Chinese magnolia vine, is a perennial liana that produces small berry-like red fruits. The Chinese magnolia vine is a slowly growing woody shrub liana with a clockwise-twining stem. It reaches 4 to 6 metres in our conditions.

The leaves are light green and deciduous. The flowers are creamy white to pinkish, fragrant. Schisandra begins flowering in its fourth year, initially only male flowers appear, in subsequent years female flowers too. Its peculiarity is that in different years it produces flowers of different sexes. Schisandra can be both self-pollinating and monoecious at the same time.

The fruits of schisandra are used. The magnolia vine produces fruit even in our conditions. You can expect the first fruits in 3-4 years. The fruits act as a powerful stimulant and tonic. Schisandra fruits also have good antioxidant effects on the human organism. The high content of vitamin C and other substances (schisandrin, schisandrol) classify the plant among the most valuable harmonizing species for the human organism.

How to grow Chinese magnolia vine

• Requires a sunny location, however the roots should be shaded. It is a liana so don't forget about a support for it to climb. Plants require sufficient watering. Highly frost-resistant, tolerates –30 °C. Often damaged by spring frosts. Therefore, we try to delay the onset of shoots and protect young plants for winter by covering them until they strengthen.

• Purchased seeds require stratification. We stratify by mixing the seeds 6 to 8 weeks before spring sowing with washed coarse-grained gravel sand in a ratio of 1:3. We store the mixture in a wooden container at a temperature of 10 to 15°C. Every 10 days we mix and moisten. We sow into soil 1.5 cm deep. Seeds germinate slowly. Young seedlings with a delicate root system grow very slowly (annual growth is about 8cm). Therefore, we recommend growing plants in a greenhouse for 2 years before placing them in a permanent outdoor location.

• Moist and well-drained soils are suitable.

• When planting, put quality compost or horticultural substrate under the plant.

• The plant is not attacked by pests or diseases.

• We harvest the fruits when they are scarlet red.

Photo sources:
By Vladimir Kosolapov - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7753798
By Doronenko 08:40, 9 April 2007 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1912686