Tripterygium wilfordii (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Late summer to early autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 9m
Eventual Spread: 9m
Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Celastraceae
Tripterygium wilfordii Flower (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Tripterygium wilfordii is a deciduous woody vine with a climbing habit. Its mid green leaves are ovate with entire margins, up to 12cm long and 7cm broad. Its white/ green hermaphrodite flowers are up to 6mm across and appear in clusters. Its pink/ pink purple fruit appear after its flowers, is a three blade sumara and is up to 15mm across.
Tripterygium wilfordii, commonly known as Thunder God Vine or Thunder Duke Vine, is native to south and east China, Japan, Korea and north east Myanmar. In its native habitat it grows at forest margins and scrub. Tripterygium wilfordii is the only species within this genus. Extracts of this plant are used in many traditional Chinese medicines. All parts of this plant are potentially toxic.
Tripterygium wilfordii Leaf (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Tripterygium is derived from the Greek tri meaning ‘three’ and pteron meaning ‘wings’. Wilfordii is named after Charles Wilford (?-1893), a plant collector at Kew.
The landscape architect may find Tripterygium wilfordii useful as an attractive deciduous wall trained with an open habit.
Ecologically, Tripterygium wilfordii flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Tripterygium wilfordii Seed (17/08/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Tripterygium wilfordii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, it will tolerate very alkali soils. It dislikes dry soils.
Tripterygium wilfordii requires little maintenance.