Anredera cordifolia (Madeira-vine, "Akazakazura")

Japanese name: アカザカズラ
Scientific name: Anredera cordifolia

[Overview]
An evergreen climbing perennial, though in Japan the aboveground parts die back in winter.
Both stems and leaves are succulent.
It has tubers.
The vines grow to 3 m or more in length and are often reddish when young.
In its native habitat it reaches 40 m in height and becomes a very heavy vine, sometimes breaking or toppling the branches of the trees it twines around.
The leaves are simple and alternate, heart-shaped, 2–15 cm long and 1.5–10 cm wide, with entire margins; they are bright green and glossy, and have petioles.
Bulbils form in the leaf axils.
Spike-like racemes 6–30 cm long emerge from the leaf axils and bear many fragrant white to cream flowers about 5 mm across.
The fruit is a spherical drupe enclosed in a fleshy perianth, turning dark brown or black when ripe, but it rarely sets fruit and propagates by bulbils.

[Uses]
Rich in folic acid, vitamin A and minerals, it becomes slimy when heated and has a texture like wakame seaweed, and is eaten as food.
Besides the leaves and stems, the bulbils and tubers are also edible.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by bulbils or stem cuttings.
In regions where frost falls in winter the aboveground parts die back, but if the roots do not freeze it sprouts again in spring.
In warm regions, overwinter it with mulch such as mounded soil or straw; in cold regions, grow it in a pot, or store the tubers or bulbils and plant them the following spring.
If the site is sunny and airy and the soil is well drained, it is not very particular about soil type.
It is vigorous and easy to grow.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; established plants in the ground tolerate some dryness, so rainfall is sufficient unless midsummer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
Apply base fertilizer, and also apply slow-release fertilizer once a month from spring to autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases, but aphids and spider mites may appear when it is grown in a pot indoors.

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