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Actinidia kolomikta

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ak-tih-NID-ee-uh koh-loh-MIK-tuh
Description

The Arctic kiwi, an ornamental woody climber in the Actinidiaceae family.  This vine is dioecious, having separate male and female plants.  Fruits will only be produced if there are both male and female plants present.  Best results will occur when one male for every three to four females is grown.  If it is not being grown for its fruit, grow the male alone, as the male has the more attractive variegation.  It is best grown in fertile, evenly moist soil.  It is a thick vine that creates dense shade.  Its rapid growth is perfect for creating cover on trellises, fences, walls and overhead forms.

For the best foliage, grow with minimal shade and limited fertilization.

If propagating from seed, provide 3 months stratification (pre-treatment of the seed).    Fresh seed will germinate in approximately 2 to 3 months.  Stored seed will take a longer period of time. Plant outdoors after the last frost, late spring to early summer.  Cuttings can also be a means of propagation.  

Pruning should be accomplished when the vine is dormant in winter and early spring.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems.  Cats are attracted to this plant in a manner similar to catnip.  Young plants will need to be protected from feline damage.

Compare this Plant With:  Actinidia melanandraActinidia chinensis

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna'
  • 'Arctic Beauty'
    Vigorous male.
  • 'Arnold A'
  • 'Krupnoplodnaya'
    Larger fruit. Purple winter stems.
  • 'Red Beauty'
    Female
'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna', 'Arctic Beauty', 'Arnold A', 'Krupnoplodnaya', 'Red Beauty'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#white flowers#white leaves#pink flowers#nectar plant#pink leaves#disease resistant#fast growing#pest resistant#children's garden#frost tolerant#playground plant#variegated#edible fruits#provides shade#vine#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#climber#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna'
  • 'Arctic Beauty'
    Vigorous male.
  • 'Arnold A'
  • 'Krupnoplodnaya'
    Larger fruit. Purple winter stems.
  • 'Red Beauty'
    Female
'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna', 'Arctic Beauty', 'Arnold A', 'Krupnoplodnaya', 'Red Beauty'
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#white flowers#white leaves#pink flowers#nectar plant#pink leaves#disease resistant#fast growing#pest resistant#children's garden#frost tolerant#playground plant#variegated#edible fruits#provides shade#vine#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#climber#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Actinidia
    Species:
    kolomikta
    Family:
    Actinidiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Edible fruits which are popular in Russia where they have been cultivated to develop various traits, such as earliness, flavor, size and vitamin C content. The young leaves have been used as a put-herb in east Asia. The root extract has been found to contain anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activity through recent research in China.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Grafting
    Layering
    Leaf Cutting
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia to Japan, China.
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers are pollinated by bees.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    No serious insect or diseases problems.
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    Large edible berry.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Dense
    Erect
    Irregular
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits will only be produced if there are both male and female plants present. The fruits will be present on the female plant. They are produced on 2nd-year wood or fruit spurs of older wood.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The greenish-white flowers are mildly fragrant but not showy. They are tiny and often hidden by the dense foliage.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Pink
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Male plants produce beautiful green foliage, variegated with pink and white-tipped in early summer. The optimum color will occur in full sun. Young foliage is a purple-green. The young leaves can be eaten once cooked. It can be used as an herb or added to soup.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Twining stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Patio
    Recreational Play Area
    Vertical Spaces
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Diseases
    Insect Pests