On a west-facing wall, the evergreen climber Holboellia grandiflora is fruiting. The intertwining mass of tangled growth shelters the lurid purple fruit which is unfortunate, as this is a definite show-stopper.

The generally cylindrical-shaped fruit hangs from a long stalk emanating at a leaf axil and developes to 130mm in length. The inner contents of cloudy white, gelatinous bulk hold the shiny black seeds.

The leaves are set in fours or fives and readily clothe a wall. The leaves are mid-green above with a pitted grey appearance below. This vigorous climber reaches 5 metres here in the Garden; with support is has the potential to reach double this height. In the wild, Holboellia grandiflora is found scrambling over shrubs in stream valleys in south-west China at around 2,800 metres.

Holboellia grandiflora

Holboellia grandiflora