Scientific name: Actinidia deliciosa
Synonym:
Family: ACTINIDIACEAE
Common names: “Kiwi vine”
Plant Type: Deciduous vine
Conditions:
Zone: 7-9
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Sheltered from winter winds
Soil: Fertile humus rich
Moisture: Moist well drained, frequent irrigation
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 30′ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Stout shoots covered in red-brown hairs and broadly ovate, heart-shapped, mid-green leaves
Flower: clusters of usually two to three creamy white flowers in mid summer, followed by ovoid-oblong, bristly-skinned, greenish brown fruit on female plants
Pruning: Prune hard on January 1st and again in July, or prune the same time as grapes
Maintenance: High, needs strong support, lots of pruning, harvesting, lots of watering, pick fruit in early winter and ripen indoors
Landscape use: Orchard, arbor, food forest, wall-side border, container
Propagate: By cuttings, layering and grafting
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
Comments: The fussy leaves and branches are not very nice to brush against or work with but I’m sure it’s worth it
Cultivars: Actinidia arguta – “Hardy kiwi” – smooth skinned fruit, smooth leaves Z 3-8
Vancouver Island Grows 