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Climber Wall ShrubFruit Edible

Actinidia deliciosa

kiwi fruit

A vigorous, deciduous climber with stout shoots covered in red-brown hairs and broadly ovate, heart-shaped, mid-green leaves. In early summer it bears clusters of usually two to three creamy white flowers . Female plants bear ovoid-oblong, bristly-skinned, greenish brown fruit. This species has given rise to a number of cultivated varieties.

Other common names

Chinese gooseberry
smooth-skinned kiwifruit
see moreyangtao

Synonyms

Actinidia deliciosa 'Strahlengriffel'
Actinidia chinensis misapplied

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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Actinidiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Genus: Actinidia are vigorous, mostly deciduous, twining climbers with simple ovate leaves which are variegated in some species. Small cup-shaped flowers may be followed on female or hermaphrodite plants by edible fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun and a sheltered site. Prone to late frost and wind scorch damage. Male and female plants are needed for fruit set, unless a self-fertile cultivar is grown. See kiwi cultivation for further details

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in the spring or by layering. Named cultivars can be grafted using whip and tongue grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wall side borders
Edible fruit

Pruning

When grown for fruit, pruning is carried out in winter and summer

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus and phytophthora root rot

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