Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa (ak-tih-NID-ee-uh chi-NEN-sis de-lis-ee-OH-sah)
Family: ActinidiaceaeNon-nativeVine (vertical)
Vine (vertical)Non-native
Kiwi fruit is a dioecious, woody vine in the Actinidiaceae family native to China, usually selected as an addition to individual's gardens because of its kiwi fruit and leaves. The name comes from the Greek word aktis meaning ray in reference to how the plant growth radiates like the spokes of a wheel. Deliciosa refers to its delicious fruit. The fruit has both nutritional properties and health benefits. It can be eaten raw and is added to salads. It is best if planted in full sun in well-drained soil but it will tolerate some shade which may cause less volume of fruit. It is susceptible to cold. Plants can freeze. The spring young shoots are very frost tender, a late frost can damage the plant. An early frost in the fall or winter can damage unharvested fruit. Since this plant is dioecious, if you want it to fruit, you must plant both a male and a female plant of Actinidia deliciosa . When planting, choose the correct site, as this is a plant that does not as its roots disturbed once situated. A sturdy trellis is recommended. The young vines need to be trained. The overhead of a patio, the archway of an arbor, or even vertical spaces such as walls and fences are other examples of where this vine Actinidia deliciosa could grow. Situate with one straight trunk and one leader on each side. Protect from strong winds, as the plant can be damaged, and fruiting reduced. Although there are numerous cultivars and varieties of this plant, many will not be found in the USA. Insect Pests, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insect pests and diseases are not a major problem for this plant. Hairs on the fruits may cause throat irritation. The fruits also contain actinidin, an enzyme that can also cause irritation. More information on Actinidia chinensis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Orbicular; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Shiny leaves that are dark green on top with silver-grey on the underside. The leaves are also a big reason (other than the fruit) that people grow this plant. These leaves are large, larger than the width of a person's hand and generally cover any spring flowers! The veins of this leaf can be easily seen, especially underneath the leaf where the mid-vein is sticking out a little bit. The lower surface is covered with white, star-shaped hairs. The veins are whitish-green and also covered with star-shaped hairs.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Green; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers are cream (or white/green), fragrant, insignificant (you cannot usually see them because of the large leaves), and bloom in late spring. However, flowers do not always bloom. The wood has to be at least a year old. The flowers will open white, but turn a yellow-orange. Covered with white hairs.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
The fuzzy kiwi fruit is green when young, turning brown as it ages. The tart, sweet fruit ripens in the early fall. They contain antioxidants and phytonutrients. When it is slightly soft, it is ready to eat. If too soft, it's overripe and not edible. The fruit is produced on female vines.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
New shoots are covered with stiff reddish-brown hairs. After the first year, they will have oblong lenticels (porous tissue).