<em>Schisandra</em>: planting, berry harvest, maintenance

Botany

Schisandra are deciduous or evergreen climbing plants native to eastern Asia. About 25 species are known, found in China, Burma, India and Mongolia. They sometimes grow in mountain areas up to over 2,000 metres altitude, which probably explains their excellent hardiness. Centre of diversity is in China, where berries of this liana have long been used for medicinal properties. One species comes from United States, Schisandra coccinea. In wild, Schisandra grows in understorey, on cool soils, sometimes at edges of watercourses. Its voluble stems allow it to climb trees and bushes around it.

Schisandra berry (notably S. chinensis) is also called “Five-flavour berry”. It is sometimes spelled Schizandra. In English it is called Magnolia Vine.

Schisandra belongs to family Schisandraceae (formerly Illiciaceae). It is a small family, including only 73 species across three genera: Illicium, Kadsura and Schisandra. Star anise (Illicium verum), an aromatic spice and medicinal plant, also belongs to this family. So does Kadsura japonica, an Asian climbing plant that could be mistaken for Schisandra and which also produces white flowers and red berries.

Schisandra is a voluble plant. It grows and twines its stems around supports by itself, enabling it to gain height. In good cultivation conditions it can reach up to 10 metres. It grows fairly slowly. Young shoots are green and tender, then lignify to form wood, acquiring an attractive reddish tint. Likewise, petioles and veins on underside of leaves are often pinkish-red.

Schisandra chinensis: Botanical illustration

Schisandra leaves are simple, entire, generally ovate, with lamina margin sometimes dentate. They are unremarkable. Leaves measure between 5 and 15 cm long. They are arranged alternately on stems, one after another.

Leaves of cultivated species are deciduous; they fall in autumn with cold and unfold again in spring when temperatures rise.

Flowering occurs in spring or early summer, between May and July depending on variety. Flowers can be a striking red, as in Schisandra rubriflora, white, or even yellow (S. henryi). Schisandra grandiflora is noteworthy for elegant, highly fragrant white flowers. Flowers of Schisandra chinensis are also white but more discreet and smaller than those of other species, with thinner petals.

Flowers are borne on long peduncles and are pendant, facing the ground. They may be solitary or gathered in clusters. They are axillary, inserted in leaf axils. Flower buds are very rounded and open gently to reveal stamens or pistil. Petals are convex, concave in shape. Flowers are very soft and delicate, forming a cup shape. They measure up to 2–3 cm in diameter. Flowers bear between 5 and 12 tepals (undifferentiated sepals or petals) arranged in two ranks.

Flowers, notably those of Schisandra grandiflora, are pleasantly fragrant.

Flowers are unisexual: either male or female. Male flowers bear stamens and release pollen that fertilises female flowers when deposited on pistil, allowing fruit development.

Schisandra is dioecious: plants are either male or female. Only female plants thus produce fruits. To obtain fruit, plant both male and female plants to ensure pollination.

Flowering of Schisandra chinensis, Schisandra grandiflora and Schisandra rubriflora

In late summer or early autumn Schisandra produces fleshy, rounded, bright red berries. They measure about five to six millimetres in diameter. Berries are borne in clusters and are very decorative. Clusters measure between 3 and 20 cm in length. Each fruit contains between one and three seeds.

Fruits are harvested in early autumn, around September–October. Berries of Schisandra chinensis are mainly used. They can be eaten fresh but are usually dried. Called “Five-flavour berries” for tasting sweet, bitter, salty, sour and pungent notes, they can be made into juices, infusions, tinctures or added to salads. In trade they are also sold in capsule form. Used in Chinese medicine, they are known as Wu Wei Zi.

Schisandra berries have many medicinal properties. They are adaptogenic, stimulating, help revitalise organism, improve resistance to stress and combat fatigue. They enhance endurance and physical and mental performance. They are said to have positive effects on memory and concentration. They are also aphrodisiac and can increase libido. They have protective effect on liver. Nutritionally, Schisandra berry is rich in vitamins, trace elements and amino acids. It also contains phytoestrogens and should not be consumed by pregnant women.

Flowers and fruits of Schisandra chinensis (photos VoDeTan2 / Vladimir Kosolapov)

Main varieties of Schisandra

Most popular varieties

Schisandra chinensis

Schisandra chinensis liana produces small solitary white flowers in late spring. It is prized for the berries it yields, the 'five-flavour berries', which are both edible and medicinal. They have a bright red hue and are harvested in early autumn.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 8 m

See the product sheet

Schisandra grandiflora

Schisandra grandiflora is a climbing plant that bears elegant pure white flowers with soft, rounded shapes. They are larger than those of other varieties, measuring 4 to 5 cm in diameter. They also have the advantage of being fragrant.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 6 m

See the product sheet

Schisandra rubriflora

This Schisandra bears superb red flowers in late spring. Female plants produce dark red berries. Its green leaves turn yellow in autumn.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 3 m

See the product sheet

Planting Schisandra

Where to plant?

As Schisandra naturally grows in the understorey, best to position it in partial shade. It likes to have at least its base in shade, and if possible the rest of the foliage in sun. You can also plant it so it benefits from morning sun but is shaded during hottest hours of the afternoon. Avoid in all cases scorching sun. Don’t hesitate to place it on the edge of woodland. You can then easily train it to climb trees. A good option is also to grow it against a wall, in a sheltered, shaded spot.

Because it likes soils that stay cool, Schisandra will enjoy being planted near a pond or stream. Schisandra prefers fresh, humus-rich, fertile, deep soils. It does not like dry, poor soils. Schisandra tolerates heavy, clay soils. It favours forest-type soils such as those found in the understorey. It also prefers slightly acidic soils.

Schisandra is quite hardy, needs no winter protection and can be grown even under a relatively cold climate, for example in mountainous areas.

You can train Schisandra to climb a trellis, into a tree, on a pergola, an arch, a summerhouse… It is also possible to espalier Schisandra on horizontal wires. They can also climb a trellis against a wall. Provide a support large enough. Remember it can reach up to 10 m high.

→ Discover how plant your schisandra in pot and how to prune and train Schisandra in Pascale’s advice sheets

When to plant?

Plant Schisandra preferably in spring, around May, or otherwise in autumn (September–October). We recommend planting in mild, slightly overcast weather, avoiding periods of frost or extreme heat.

How to plant?

To enjoy Schisandra fruit, we recommend planting at least one young male plant and one young female plant, as this will allow pollination.

1. Place rootball in a tub filled with water, to allow it to rehydrate
2. Dig a planting hole two to three times the size of the rootball
3. Put some soil mixed with well-rotted compost in the bottom
4. Place Schisandra in the planting hole.
5. Backfill soil all around the rootball.
6. Install a stake or trellis and train stems onto it.
7. Water well.

In the weeks following planting, continue to water regularly.

Schisandra rubriflora (photo Leonora Enking)

Care and berry harvest

Carry out regular watering, at least during year of planting, as Schisandra is sensitive to drought. It is important that soil stays cool, even moist. We also recommend adding a layer of organic mulch around its base.

Do not hesitate to add well-rotted compost to enrich soil. Indeed, Schisandra appreciates fertile soils rich in organic matter. Moreover, this will improve soil structure, increasing its water retention capacity.

Aside from these precautions, Schisandra requires very little maintenance. It is not very susceptible to diseases and pests, but it can nevertheless be affected by powdery mildew.

Harvest of Schisandra berries takes place around September–October. You can eat them fresh or dry them to preserve them, then use them for infusions. You can also harvest the berries to extract the seeds and try sowing, but it is somewhat tricky to succeed.

Schisandra berries

Propagation

Schisandra can be multiplied by sowing or by propagation by cuttings. In all cases, this liana is not very easy to multiply and germination or rooting rates are quite low. Moreover, young plants obtained from sowing will take several years to produce berries. For propagation by cuttings of Schisandra, either herbaceous cuttings are taken in spring, around May–June, or semi-woody cuttings in late summer.

Sowing

You can sow Schisandra in spring, or in autumn from freshly harvested seeds.

Seeds are a little tricky to germinate. They need cold stratification, which you can perform by placing them in the fridge before sowing. As germination rate is quite low, we recommend sowing a larger number of seeds than you would for other plants.

1. Prepare a pot with potting compost.
2. Sow Schisandra seeds.
3. Cover them with a thin layer of compost, then firm down gently.
4. Water with a fine spray.
5. Place the pot under a cold frame, in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight.
6. Continue to water regularly so substrate stays moist but not waterlogged.

Association

As Schisandra favours shady exposures and rich, cool soil, it will fit perfectly into a woodland garden. You can recreate a lovely natural scene by planting beside it foliage-rich plants such as ferns, Paris polyphylla, Brunnera macrophylla… Also make the most of the dense, groundcover foliage of Pachysandra! For delicate flowerings, choose Geranium nodosum, corydalis, astrantias, Solomon’s seal, bleeding heart… You can include grasses such as luzulas, Carex, Hakonechloa macra… Also discover the magnificent Cornus canadensis, a groundcover dogwood that bears large, handsome white flowers formed of four bracts, and decorative foliage that turns red in autumn.

Schisandra is a liana that fits perfectly into woodland gardens! You can combine it with other plants that prefer cool, shady conditions. Here, from left to right: Paris polyphylla, Geranium nodosum, Schisandra grandiflora (photo Peganum), Polygonatum odoratum, and Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’

You can also pair Schisandra with other climbing plants. Try, for example, Akebia quinata, which offers attractive, divided light-green foliage and an original spring flowering. In addition, its berries are edible! You can also plant clematis, which, like Schisandra, prefer roots in shade and the remainder of the foliage rather in sun. Also consider Kadsura japonica, another Asian climber in a similar style to Schisandra.

You can associate Schisandra with trees and bushes it can climb. Plant it at the base of a fruit tree and train it up into the crown. Also take advantage of bushes with edible fruit! Pair it with persimmon (Kaki), pawpaw (Asimina), raspberries, mulberries, blue honeysuckle, Lycium barbarum (which produces goji berries!)… Combine it with plants that, like it, produce unusual, medicinal and highly nutritious berries.

Feel free to plant perennials at its feet. This will also help shade Schisandra’s base and keep soil cool – everything it needs! Consider, for example, hardy geraniums, heucheras or hostas…