Actinidia melanandra

Purple or Red Kiwi is a deciduous climbing vine with hairless stems and green leaves that are bluish-green on the underside.  The vines are either male or female and both are needed to produce fruit. One male plant can pollinate 8 female plants.  To determine if you have male or female plants, wait until your plant flowers in the spring.  Look at the center of the flowers where the anthers (an oval-shaped structure at the end of a tube called a filament) are located.  Look for pollen on the anthers as well as white stigmas (part of the female reproductive system) that are longer than the anthers. If all the parts in the middle are pollen covered anthers, the plant is male.  If there are white stigmas along with a few yellow anthers, the plant is female.

While the fruit is edible, it is not commercially available, due to its short shelf life. This vine is not frost hardy.  Should be planted in full sun with adequate support to climb on.  The plant can sometimes be found in nurseries under the incorrect name Actinidia melandra.

This dioecious plant requires both male and female present in order to produce fruit.  Situating this plant in full sun will provide the best fruit production. Protect from strong winds.

If propagating from seed, it is necessary to stratify the seed for 3 months before sowing.  Fresh seed will germinate in 2 to 3 months. Seed that has been stored can take a longer period before germination.  The seedlings can be planted in their permanent location after the chance of frost has passed.  Most seedlings are male.  Softwood cutting can also be a means of propagation.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems.  Young foliage is subject to frost damage.