About
Actinidia arguta is a robust deciduous vine that can extend several meters. This hardy kiwi features tough green foliage and produces white flowers, which, when pollinated, develop into smooth-skinned green fruits. These fruits are smaller yet sweeter than those typically found in grocery stores.
About the genus
Actinidia consists of robust, primarily deciduous climbing plants that twine as they grow. The leaves are typically simple and ovate, with some species exhibiting variegation. Female or hermaphrodite plants produce small cup-shaped flowers, which may yield edible fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub, Fruit Edible
- Habit
- Climbing
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- wider than 8 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens
- Native to
- China, Japan, Korea
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in deep, fertile, acid to neutral soil, in a sheltered position - ideally against a wall and trained as an espalier. For more advice see kiwi cultivation. Both a male and female are needed for fruit
- Pruning
- Requires regular pruning to keep under control. For more advice see kiwi cultivation
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus and phytophthora root rot