Tara Vine Actinidia arguta
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ack-ti-NID-ee-ah ar-GUE-tah
- Description
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Hardy kiwi is an edible woody climbing vine in the Actinidiacea (kiwi) family. Being dioecious, a male plant is needed in order for the female plant to produce fruit. The buds that produce the flowers and fruits can be found on the interior part of the current year's growth. Typically, they are not highly visible, being covered by the leaves.
This plant grows rapidly, and while it typically reaches 30' in height in the garden, in its moist, native habitats, it can grow to 100', often twining into adjoining woodland trees. It can grow in soil that is slightly acid, slightly alkaline, or neutral.
Known for being a cold hardy plant, its spring growth can be damaged by a late frost.
A great choice to add vertical and horizontal cover in a garden. While the showy leaves can be up to 5" long, the tiny greenish/white flowers are fragrant. Its rapid growth can quickly fill in the need for a fence or wall cover up.
Unlike kiwi sold commercially, the fruits are much smaller and hairless. The taste of both fruits are similar, with the Actinidia arguta being milder and less acidic. They can also be eaten with the skin on and without removing the seeds. In the springtime, the clear, watery sap can be tapped and used as a drink. The fruits are typically formed on wood that is in its second year and older.
Maintenance and pruning activities should be completed during the winter months.
Resistant to honey fungus.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Its rapid growth, as much as 30' in one year, can cause this plant to be somewhat invasive. It can also be heavy with fruits, ensure that the structure where it is climbing is strong. Frequent pruning may be necessary.
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:
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- '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'
- 'Tatyana'
More cold hardy than other varieties.
- 'Ananasnaya'
- '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:
- 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'
- 'Tatyana'
More cold hardy than other varieties.
- 'Ananasnaya'
- '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:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Actinidia
- Species:
- arguta
- Family:
- Actinidiacea
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Make an excellent cover-up.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil 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
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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 fleshy, true berry, its size similar to a grape or small plum.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The petals are thin and delicate.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is thin and smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators