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Siberian Gooseberry Actinidia arguta

Phonetic Spelling
ack-ti-NID-ee-ah ar-GUE-tah
Description

Hardy kiwi is an edible woody climbing vine in the kiwi family (Actinidiacea) native to Japan, Korea, China and Russia. There are three varieties and several cultivars available. The Genus name comes from the Greek word aktis meaning ray referring to how the plant growth radiates like the spokes of a wheel. Specific epithet means sharply toothed or notched referring to the leaves.

In the garden, the hardy kiwi vine can grow 30 feet in one year. In its native habitat, it can grow up to 100 feet long. It prefers full sun to partial shade in well-drained fertile soil. Prune each stem in winter back to 8-10 buds and prune in summer as needed to control over-long branches. Planting in less fertile soil will help control excessive spreading. A male and female plant is needed for fruit production. Propagation is by seed or stem cuttings. Seeds need a period of cold stratification for 1 to 2 months

The small fragrant flowers are greenish-white and appear in June. The green leaves are 3 to 5 inches long and appear in spring. The edible fruits are grape-sized, green, brownish or purple and smooth-skinned. The fruit doesn't need peeled making the entire fruit edible. They are similar in flavor to the larger fuzzy kiwi but sweeter and less acidic. Resistant to honey fungus.

Grow this vine on a sturdy structure as it can be heavy with fruits. It can be used for screening and in the edible or pollinator garden. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Its rapid growth can cause this plant to be somewhat weedy.   A scent, similar to catnip can be detected by visiting cats who can damage the foliage and roots while digging. Root rot can be an issue.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ananasnaya'
    Popular fruiting variety, readily available. Also known as 'Anna'.
  • 'Audrey'
    Cold hardy pollinizer for 'Natasha' and 'Tatyana'
  • 'Bingo'
    Female, pineapple flavored fruit.
  • 'Chang Bai Giant'
    May fruit without male, more abundant fruit when male present.
  • 'Dumbarton Oaks'
    Female, discovered in an old public garden in D.C. Winter hardy.
  • 'Geneva 3'
    Green flesh, tropical flavor.
  • 'Hardy Red'
    Popular fruiting variety, readily available. Red flesh.
  • 'Issai'
    Self-pollinating, lower growing cultivar.
  • 'Jumbo'
    Female, larger fruit, begins producing fruit in 3rd or 4th year.
  • 'Ken's Red'
    Male, used as pollinator.
  • 'Meader'
    Male pollinizer for 'Geneva 3' and other varieties.
  • 'Michigan State'
    Discovered on a fence at Michigan State Univ.
  • 'Natasha'
    More cold hardy than other varieties.
  • 'Scarlet September Kiwi'
    Produces red, sweet, oval-shaped kiwi fruits
  • 'Tatyana'
    More cold hardy than other varieties.
'Ananasnaya', 'Audrey', 'Bingo', 'Chang Bai Giant', 'Dumbarton Oaks', 'Geneva 3', 'Hardy Red', 'Issai', 'Jumbo', 'Ken's Red', 'Meader', 'Michigan State', 'Natasha', 'Scarlet September Kiwi', 'Tatyana'
Tags:
#deciduous#showy leaves#woody#twining#woody vine#edible fruits#deciduous vine#screening#twining vine#vertical spaces#clay soils tolerant#vine#arbor#bee friendly#perennial vines#edible#fence#trellis#hedge#long lived
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ananasnaya'
    Popular fruiting variety, readily available. Also known as 'Anna'.
  • 'Audrey'
    Cold hardy pollinizer for 'Natasha' and 'Tatyana'
  • 'Bingo'
    Female, pineapple flavored fruit.
  • 'Chang Bai Giant'
    May fruit without male, more abundant fruit when male present.
  • 'Dumbarton Oaks'
    Female, discovered in an old public garden in D.C. Winter hardy.
  • 'Geneva 3'
    Green flesh, tropical flavor.
  • 'Hardy Red'
    Popular fruiting variety, readily available. Red flesh.
  • 'Issai'
    Self-pollinating, lower growing cultivar.
  • 'Jumbo'
    Female, larger fruit, begins producing fruit in 3rd or 4th year.
  • 'Ken's Red'
    Male, used as pollinator.
  • 'Meader'
    Male pollinizer for 'Geneva 3' and other varieties.
  • 'Michigan State'
    Discovered on a fence at Michigan State Univ.
  • 'Natasha'
    More cold hardy than other varieties.
  • 'Scarlet September Kiwi'
    Produces red, sweet, oval-shaped kiwi fruits
  • 'Tatyana'
    More cold hardy than other varieties.
'Ananasnaya', 'Audrey', 'Bingo', 'Chang Bai Giant', 'Dumbarton Oaks', 'Geneva 3', 'Hardy Red', 'Issai', 'Jumbo', 'Ken's Red', 'Meader', 'Michigan State', 'Natasha', 'Scarlet September Kiwi', 'Tatyana'
Tags:
#deciduous#showy leaves#woody#twining#woody vine#edible fruits#deciduous vine#screening#twining vine#vertical spaces#clay soils tolerant#vine#arbor#bee friendly#perennial vines#edible#fence#trellis#hedge#long lived
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Actinidia
    Species:
    arguta
    Family:
    Actinidiacea
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Make an excellent cover-up.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Russia, China and temperate Asia
    Wildlife Value:
    Bees frequent this plant.
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Easy to Grow
    Edible fruit
    Fragrance
    Screening
    Wind Break
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    The fruit is edible, the sap can be extracted to drink.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    A green, brownish or purple fruit about the size of a grape with smooth skin. The fruit is edible.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    3/4 inch long greenish-white flowers appear in clusters of 1 to 7 flowers. Male flowers have dark purple anthers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The dark green leaves are up to 5" long have serrated margins and are elliptical to ovate in shape. Petioles are red.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark is thin and smooth.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Vertical Spaces
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Hedge
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators