Artic Kiwi Actinidia kolomikta
Other 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 melanandra, Actinidia chinensis
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna'
- 'Arctic Beauty'
Vigorous male. - 'Arnold A'
- 'Krupnoplodnaya'
Larger fruit. Purple winter stems. - 'Red Beauty'
Female
- 'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna'
- 'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna', 'Arctic Beauty', 'Arnold A', 'Krupnoplodnaya', 'Red Beauty'
- Tags:
- 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'
- 'Ananasnaya Michurina' aka 'Anna', 'Arctic Beauty', 'Arnold A', 'Krupnoplodnaya', 'Red Beauty'
- Tags:
-
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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.
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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
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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:
- 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twining stems.
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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
