Alphabetical Plant Listing

Actinidia deliciosa (Kiwifruit)

Kiwifruit, Kiwi Fruit, Chinese Gooseberry, Smooth-skinned Kiwifruit, Yangtao


Actinidia deliciosa (Kiwifruit) is a vigorous, deciduous, woody-stemmed, twining climber with broadly ovate, heart-shaped, lustrous mid-green leaves, 5-8 in. long (12-20 cm). Slightly fragrant clusters of cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers are borne in late spring. Kiwifruit is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Successful fruit production requires a female cultivar and a male with viable pollen, unless a self-fertile cultivar is grown. Greenish brown, fuzzy, egg-shaped, edible fruits appear on female plants in early fall. They are sweet and tangy, their flavor somewhat reminiscent of pineapple. Kiwifruit is a frost-sensitive, temperate zone vine that requires plenty of heat to mature the fruit properly. Fast-growing, Kiwifruit is a rewarding plant with handsome foliage all summer long, delicious fruits and no serious pest issues. Easy to grow in a sheltered sunny position in the garden, it is perfect for trellises, arbors, fences, or walls.

At the turn of the century, Actinidia deliciosa was just a wild plant in China, but by 1970 it has been developed into a new fruit crop in New Zealand. Today, the kiwifruit is an important commercial crop grown in different parts of the world, with over a million tons of fruit per year distributed worldwide.

  • Grows up to 15-30 ft. tall (4-9 m) and 6-10 ft. wide (2-3 m).
  • A full sun lover, it is best grown in fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Light shade is tolerated. Provide a sheltered site. Since late spring frosts and early fall frosts could kill this vine, overhead frost protection is desirable.
  • Generally pest and disease free.
  • When grown for fruit, pruning is carried out in winter and summer.
  • Take softwood cuttings in the spring or propagate by layering. Named cultivars can be grafted using whip and tongue grafting
  • Native to China

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Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 9
Heat Zones 7 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Climbers, Fruit
Plant Family Actinidia - Kiwi
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 15' – 30' (4.5m – 9m)
Spread 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Wall-Side Borders, Walls and Fences

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By riekephotos, Martin Capek, Ivan Marjanovic / Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 7 – 9
Heat Zones 7 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Climbers, Fruit
Plant Family Actinidia - Kiwi
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 15' – 30' (4.5m – 9m)
Spread 6' – 10' (180cm – 3m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Garden Uses Arbors, Pergolas, Trellises, Wall-Side Borders, Walls and Fences

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