Know Before You Go: Information and helpful hints for your next visit
The Morton Arboretum Get tickets
Browse Trees and Plants

Hardy kiwi

Actinidia kolomikta

Common names:
hardy kiwi, Kolomikta kiwi, Kolomikta actinidia

Content Detail

The hardy kiwi vine will twist and spiral up any support, but is best placed in a site where it can enjoy partial shade to avoid sun scorch. The twining vine has showy foliage of pink, red, silvery-white, and green with small, white, fragrant flowers in mid-May. They are followed by small, aromatic, sweet, fuzzy fruits. 

  • Family (English) Actinidia
  • Family (botanic) Actinidiaceae
  • Tree or plant type Vine
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Large plant (more than 24 inches)
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
  • Soil preference Alkaline soil, Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Alkaline soil, clay soil
  • Season of interest mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
  • Shape or form Vining
  • Growth rate Moderate

Size and method of climbing:

Hardy kiwi is a 15 to 20 foot twining vine that climbs by twisting their stems or leaf stalks around a support such as a trellis, arbor, wires, or a chain-link fence.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is native to Asia.

Leaf description:

The 5 inch long, heart-shaped leaves are simple, alternately arranged, and variegated with pink and white.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size description:

Male and female flowers are dioecious, meaning they are on separate plants. Late spring to very early summer flowers are small, slightly fragrant, and creamy white.

Fruit description:

The fruit is an edible, greenish berry. One male plant is needed to pollinate up to four female plants to set fruit.

Plant care:

Consider planting male plants only for better leaf coloration, but both male and female plants will be needed to produce fruits on female plants. It grows best in well-drained soil. A full sun location can lead to leaf scorch.

List of pests and diseases:

There aren’t any serious problems.

Arctic Beauty hardy kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta ‘Arctic Beauty’):

Leaves have more variegation than found in the species.

Photo Gallery (3)

Slider controls

Slider

Slider

1

Donate

Your support is vital to the Arboretum, where the power of trees makes a positive impact on people’s lives.

Make a gift