Unlike the berry bushes we know, the Wu Wei Zi berry is a fast-growing climbing plant that likes to climb up to five meters in height. In the local gardens it is not only popular as a delicious and, above all, very healthy berry, but also as a privacy screen. Because Schisandra chinensis is also very decorative to look at with its deep red leaves and bright red fruits. In Chinese teaching, it has been considered a panacea for almost every disease for over 2000 years. Her name Wu Wei Zi also translates as "berry of five tastes", which indicates a treat for the palate.
Appearance and maintenance
The Wu Wei Zi berry is originally native to China and is still quite unknown as a cultivated plant in the local gardens. The tasty Schisandra chinensis makes no great demands on its care, so that little effort has to be made. In local latitudes it is also called vital berry, which says a lot about its effect on health. But hobby gardeners who have already discovered the plant cultivate it in the garden mainly because of its decorative appearance, because the creeper can reach a height of up to 5 meters and then shines in the rich green of the leaves with the red berries as Pearls.
The leaves turn yellowish in autumn and fall off in winter. The light pink or white flowers that appear in spring have an intense scent. The Schisandra, which is commercially available here, is actually self-fruiting, as both male and female flowers form on it, but in the first year it can happen that either only female or male flowers are formed, so that there is no harvest that year gives. But from the second year onwards, the large fruit clusters are formed, which look similar to the local currants. These have a varying taste between sour, sweet, bitter, salty and spicy. Regular watering and two annual fertilizers make the hardy older Schisandra a decorative eye-catcher in every garden.
Location
A sunny place to light penumbra, where the direct midday sun should be avoided in the summer months, is the ideal location for the Schisandra. If the blazing midday sun falls on the roots, the earth should be protected with a thick layer of mulch. Since she likes to climb, she definitely needs a climbing aid. The plant is winter-proof from the second to third year of life, so that it can remain in the chosen location all year round.
So the following places are ideal:
- in front of a sunny house wall
- however, avoid direct midday sun
- make sure to provide climbing support
- can grow up to five meters high
- on a fence or wall as a privacy screen
- in the garden bed on a pergola
- as a terrace delimitation
- on a trellis as a privacy screen from the neighbor
Tip: The Wu Wei Zi berry does not always have to be planted as a double. Only among the wild berries there are male and female varieties. The berries commercially available here are usually self-fruiting, as they have both female and male flowers on a single plant.
Substrate & soil
The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral. The plant can also tolerate a little lime. So, the soil at the site should be prepared as follows:
- The earth should be light and permeable
- Mix in peat, sand and a little clay
- Mix in compost before planting
plants
Small Wu Wei Zi berry plants can be bought in well-stocked shops. Care should be taken to ensure that the self-fruiting variety "Eastern Prinz" is chosen. Otherwise, two plants, a female and a male variety, would have to be chosen for the berry to bear fruit in autumn. When planting should be proceeded as follows:
- If there are several plants, make sure that there is a planting distance of about one meter
- Dig a hole and prepare the earth
- create a drainage system to prevent waterlogging
- to do this, put potsherds or stones on the bottom of the hole
- Take the plant out of the pot and water the roots well
- briefly immerse in a bucket of water
- Place in the planting hole and fill in soil
- Lightly press
- water well
- Mulch with leaves or chopped bark
A climbing aid should be provided when planting. This can be a pergola in the open bed. Berries, which should serve as a privacy screen from the neighbors, can be grown on a trellis. A climbing aid, for example made of wooden struts or wire, should also be pulled on a house wall so that the plant can loop itself up on it.
Tip: It is important that no trees or other plants are cultivated in close proximity to the Schisandra chinensis. Because the creeper wraps itself around everything that is nearby and offers it support. However, this can be fatal to trees and other plants because they can hardly breathe.
to water
The vital berry likes a moist but well-drained soil without waterlogging. It has to be poured accordingly. It does not tolerate a longer dry season and should therefore be watered more often, especially in a very sunny location. You should proceed as follows:
- water regularly, do not let it dry out
- A layer of mulch helps keep the soil moist
- Water daily on very hot, sunny days
- in the early morning or late evening hours
- on rainy days the rainwater is completely sufficient
- Ideally, use collected rainwater
- if this is not available, alternatively stale tap water
- the plant is easily tolerated by lime
- Ask the municipality about the lime content in the water
Tip: If the leaves are hanging or turn yellow and dry before autumn, then the plant has no water and should be watered immediately to save the remaining leaves.
Fertilize
Since the Schisandra chinensis is a fast and strong growing plant, it also needs a lot of fertilizer to be able to produce flowers and fruits. Otherwise it only puts its strength into the strong growth and the fruits would wither. Since the plant is a berry species, it can be supplied with commercially available berry or fruit fertilizers. For the application you should pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions, but it should definitely be done once in the spring before flowering, once in summer before fruiting and the last time in autumn before hibernation, a fertilizer application obtain.
Cut
A cut is usually not necessary with the Schisandra. However, if it becomes too big in its location, it can also be cut back. The time before the flowers sprout should be used for this. When cutting, you should therefore proceed as follows:
- the ideal time is late winter, early spring
- before the new leaves and flowers shoot
- this also makes it easier to see where the cut is being made
- cut off all long shoots and branches
- so cut to the desired height
- there is usually no baldness from the inside
- new shoots also form on the main stem
- Also cut this height if desired
- only use disinfected and sharp tools
- Pruning shears and rose shears are ideal
Tip: Only cut the plants on overcast, dry days, so the interfaces can neither be burned by the sun, nor can bacteria or fungi get into them by the rain. When the main trunk has been cut in height, cover the large wound with tree wax.
Propagation with cuttings
The vital berry can be propagated by cuttings. Especially if you have a tasty and well-bearing variety in your own garden, you can multiply it one to one and thus increase your harvest yield again with other, same plants. For propagation with cuttings you should proceed as follows:
- in spring before new growth
- Use not very young shoots for the cuttings
- these should already be slightly lignified
- Cut to a length of about 20 cm
- there should be multiple eyes
- Put the cuttings in prepared potting soil
- at least one eye should be underground
- place in a bright and warm place
- keep moist
- if the first leaves appear, the rooting has been successful
The new, small plants should be protected from excessive sunlight for the first year. After the rooting has been successful, the plants can be moved to a larger pot and fertilized regularly. The new vital berries should not be planted directly in the garden bed so that they do not have to be left outside for the first winter. The pot with the new plant can thus be moved to a cool, frost-free, or even darker place in winter. The next spring, the Wu Wei Zi berries will be planted in their final location in the garden.
Increase by lowering
Since the Schisandra chinensis is a creeper, it also has many soft, long shoots in spring that can be used as a sinker. This possibility of propagation also works well as a rule, since the sinkers remain on the mother plant until they can independently absorb nutrients and water via their roots. The procedure for propagation by subsidence is as follows:
- Select long, new shoot near the ground
- put it lightly into the ground at one eye
- a bent nail or tent peg will help secure it
- remove all leaves around
- if the first roots appear, the shoot can be cut by the mother plant
- alternatively, the sinker remains on the mother plant for the next winter
- Protect with plant fleece in winter
- cut and dig up next spring
- replant at their own location
sowing
The sowing of the Schisandra is usually very difficult, as there are often no seedlings. If you still want to try it and have a self-fruiting variety in the garden, you should proceed as follows:
- small fruits contain around two to three seeds
- Remove the pulp and dry well in a warm place
- Put in pots with potting soil in spring
- do not insert too deeply
- water well, keep moist
- Put transparent foil over the pot
- Ventilate daily to prevent mold growth
- place in a bright and warm place
- Avoid direct sunlight
- If the first seedlings appear, remove the foil
- seedlings are about ten centimeters high, prick out if necessary
When the seedlings are big enough, move them to a larger pot. Here you can now move to a sheltered and bright place in the open air when no more frosty nights are to be expected. However, direct sunlight should still be avoided. Keep the small plants well moist and fertilize lightly. Only use very little fertilizer, otherwise the tender roots could burn. For the first winter, the young plants remain in a cool, frost-protected place that can also be dark. The vital berries will then be planted in their new, final location next spring.
Overwinter
The older Wu Wei Zi berries are hardy down to -30 ° Celsius. Only those who have young plants in the garden, for example through sowing themselves, should protect them in the first two to three winters. But from the growth and the branch and trunk thickness it can be seen when the berry no longer needs winter protection. Protection in winter should look like this:
- act before the first frost
- mulch the earth again
- Cover with brushwood or straw mats
- Cover the entire free-standing plant with plant fleece
- If the plant is on a house wall, attach the fleece to the wall all around
- do not fertilize in winter
- Water moderately on frost-free days, do not allow to dry out
- remove the fleece again in spring before budding
Tip: The young plants do not yet produce any fruit in the first few years. As soon as the Schisandra bears fruit, however, it can remain without winter protection, because the Fruits are usually not formed until September and should only be picked after the first frost will.
Care errors, diseases or pests
Since the plant has not been cultivated in the local latitudes for a long time, it is quite robust appears, care errors, diseases or pests have not yet been recognized or discovered been. Only regular watering should be ensured so that the plant does not suffer from drought, which could damage the fruits. Because due to drought, flowers or small, not yet formed fruits fall off before they ripen.
Conclusion
Schisandra chinensis is the perfect choice for those who like exotic plants that require little maintenance. This very healthy berry is not only suitable for consumption, it is also very suitable as a plant for a privacy screen from neighbors or as a beautification of a house wall. Because of their height of up to five meters, the lush green of the leaves, the decorative flowers and later bright red fruits until late autumn it becomes a real one in every corner of the garden Eye catcher. In addition, the Wu Wei Zi berry exudes a pleasant and beguiling scent during flowering, which makes the location near a seating area particularly attractive. All in all, the vital berry is a plant that should no longer be missing in any garden.
