Three-wing

Family: spindle family. A very peculiar genus comprising only three species of woody lianas native to eastern China, Japan and Korea.

Its representatives are distinguished by the unusual appearance of the inflorescences and fruits — indehiscent dry capsules with one to three appendages resembling wings, hence the genus name. The seeds, unlike those of other spindle-family members, lack the characteristically brightly colored arils.

Location: shade-tolerant; grows well on loose loamy and sandy loam soils.

Care: supports are necessary for tying the vines. Relatively drought-tolerant. Requires shelter during the first years of growth. At an older age only the tips of one-year-old shoots are damaged. Resistant to pests and diseases.

Propagation: the highest rooting of green cuttings (up to 85%) is obtained under artificial fog conditions with the use of growth stimulants. For propagating these lianas it is best to use woody (hardwood) cuttings. They are harvested in autumn or before cuttings (late February - early March). Branches are cut into cuttings 8 - 10 cm long with two to three nodes. Prepared cuttings are soaked for 18 - 24 hours in an aqueous solution of heteroauxin (200 mg per 1 L of water), planted in boxes with sand slightly inclined and buried 2 - 3 cm. Rooting occurs in 60 - 65 days (90 - 100%). In June the cuttings are planted into cold frames for further growing. In the autumn of the following year the planting material can be used in green construction. Planting pit size 60x60x60 cm, spacing between seedlings 0.8 - 1 m.

Uses: decorating high walls. In China strong insecticides are obtained from its roots. Valued for its large foliage and graceful fragrant flowers gathered in panicles.