Wu Wei Zi

Schisandra chinensis is a deciduous, dioecious woody climbing vine in the family Schisandraceae, native to forests of northeastern China, the Russian Far East, Korea, and Japan. It reaches 8-10 m in length, climbing by twining stems with brown, flaking bark. The simple, alternate leaves are elliptic to obovate, 5-10 cm long, with finely serrate margins and a glossy upper surface that turns yellow in autumn. Fragrant, cream to pale pink unisexual flowers appear in spring, solitary in the leaf axils. The fruit is a pendulous spike of bright red, fleshy berries 6-8 mm in diameter, each containing one or two kidney-shaped seeds. The plant thrives in moist, well-drained humus-rich soils in partial shade along forest edges and stream banks, and is cultivated commercially in China for its medicinal fruit.