Schisandra

Growing

As a vigorous climbing vine, Schisandra needs a sturdy structure to scale. In a garden, train the vines onto vertical columns or stakes, as you would a grape vine. Because this plant is dioecious, you need both male and female plants nearby for pollination and fruit production. To help the vine avoid sun scald during intense heat, maintain a healthy leaf-to-fruit ratio and use consistent irrigation to keep the surface temperature of the berries stable.

Prepare a deep, loose, sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter and slightly acidic, ideally around pH 6.5. Avoid dense or compacted soils, as the roots need aeration. Watch for pests; if you see small numbers of insects, you can often manage them by hand or by removing dead leaves and injured branches that might serve as breeding sites.

Be patient, as the first harvest of red berry clusters arrives several years after the plant is established. Once the berries mature in late summer or early autumn, harvest the clusters. Store the berries unwashed in a cool, dark cellar or in the fridge. With a large yield, drying the fruit also preserves it.