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Plant · P-896
Southern Schisandra
Schisandra sphenanthera
Southern Schisandra is a deciduous, twining vine from the forests and thickets of southern and western China, climbing to about 7 metres on a support and needing a partner of the opposite sex nearby to set fruit. It grows best in dappled shade with some protection from strong sun, in a consistently moist, well-drained soil, and does not tolerate drought. Its tart red berries, dried and known as wu wei zi, are a long-used tonic for cough, breathlessness and liver support, but they strongly inhibit a liver enzyme that clears many prescription drugs, so they are not something to combine casually with medication.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Partial Sun · Shade
- USDA zone
- USDA 6–9
- Soil
- Sand · Loam · Clay
- Moisture
- Well-Drained · Moist
Vertical layer
Vine- Soil pH
- Not yet recorded
- Plant type
- Vine
- Mature height
- 23 ft
- Mature spread
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