Akebia quinata or Chocolate Vine, is a vigorous perennial vine that grows well in our garden in partial shade. The chocolate vine gets its name from the tiny rich purplish-brown blooms that smother the vine and from the delicate chocolate scent of the flowers. The vine produces glossy, dark green leaves that are oval-shaped and grow in clusters of five. The stems are grey in colour and are very attractive in the winter. Akebia provides quick cover in sun or shade for trellises, fences, arbors, pergolas and walls. It may also be sprawled over the ground as a ground cover to camouflage rock piles or old tree stumps or to provide soil stabilization for banks. It is an excellent ground cover for shady areas and woodland gardens.