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Actinidia melanandra

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Actinidia melandra
Phonetic Spelling
ak-tih-NID-ee-uh me-LAN-an-dra
Description

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.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#climbing#blue leaves#disease resistant#fast growing#pest resistant#twining#climbing vines#red fruits#edible fruits#purple fruits#vine#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#climbing#blue leaves#disease resistant#fast growing#pest resistant#twining#climbing vines#red fruits#edible fruits#purple fruits#vine#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Actinidia
    Species:
    melanandra
    Family:
    Actinidiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Asia, West China
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers are pollinated by bees and various insects.
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    No serious insect or diseases problems.
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    Fuzzy purple berry with red flesh
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    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
    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:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is small. They are fuzzy purple berry with red flesh. While the fruit is edible, it is not commercially available. It can be eaten both raw and cooked. The vines are male and female and both are needed to produce fruit, though one male plant can pollinate 8 female plants.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White flowers in summer.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Papery
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    It has green leaves with bluish green underside; hairless stems.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    This plant has one or more branched stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Patio
    Vertical Spaces
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Diseases
    Insect Pests