Kiwi Vine
Actinidia deliciosa
📖 About this plant
A vigorous, woody deciduous vine famous for producing the delicious kiwifruit. Its large, heart-shaped leaves with red stems create a lush tropical-looking canopy, and the creamy-white, fragrant flowers appear in spring. Requires both male and female plants for fruit production, though the vine itself is highly ornamental. Fast-growing and capable of covering large structures in a single season.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 2-3 days
Moderate (50-65%)
5-30°C
Deep, well-draining, fertile loam rich in organic matter; pH 5.5-7.0; must have excellent drainage
High-nitrogen fertilizer in spring, balanced (10-10-10) in summer; avoid late-season feeding to prevent frost damage to new growth
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- China — Yangtze River Valley
- 📏 Max height
- 500-900 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 300-500 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Cream
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Very Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals — mildly toxic if ingested; fruit is safe and nutritious
- 🌱 Propagation
- Softwood cuttings in spring, hardwood cuttings in winter, grafting onto seedling rootstock
🛡️ Health & Safety
Leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals — mildly toxic if ingested; fruit is safe and nutritious
Common issues
- Requires both male and female plants for fruit set
- Susceptible to Phytophthora root rot in wet soil
- Cats are attracted to the vine and may damage it
💡 Care tips
- Needs both male and female vines to produce fruit
- Requires strong support as mature vines are extremely heavy
- Prune aggressively in winter to control vigorous growth
- Provide well-drained soil and protect from late spring frosts
