Actinidia arguta 'Issai' (Kiwi Vine, Tara Vine, Yang-tao)


Michael's Opinion

The hardy Kiwi Vine was originally called the Chinese gooseberry. This type of vine was found in Asia, Siberia, northern China and Korea. In 1877, an explorer brought a Japanese cultivar of the plant into the U.S. Soon after, other cultivars from Russia and Asia were introduced into home gardens and markets.

Botanical Information

FamilyActinidiaceae
GenusActinidia
Speciesarguta
Cultivar'issai'
CategoryWoody
TypeVine
OriginTemperate East Asia
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
Edible fruit.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone5
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone6
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH5
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-4
Temperature (°F)-25
Height7.6 - 14.5 m
Spread4.5 m - 6.2 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA deciduous vine that produces edible fruit.
ID CharacteristicThis vine is a dark green colour with unlobed, broad-ovate leaves in an alternate pattern with sharp serrations. In spring the vine has small, scented green and white flowers. In September to October grape-sized kiwi fruits develop and ripen.
LandscapeMakes an excellent ornamental specimen or attractive privacy screening in both home, urban and commercial settings.
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in spring or autumn, or by semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer, or by layering in winter.
CultivationPlant in full sun with shelter from wind in a deep and well-drained, rich, loamy soil that is preferably neutral (although a range of pH will be tolerated). Pollination via insects, or by hand if grown under glass.
PestsGenerally free from serious pests and diseases in temperate climates. May become victim to leafroller caterpillars, greedy scale, thrips, passion-vine hopper and rootknot ellworm if grown in a warmer region, as well as to bortytis (Pseudomonas viridiflava), bacterial blossom rot (Sclerotinia spp) and Phytophthora.
Notable SpecimensRoyal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Missouri Botanical Garden.
Bark/Stem DescriptionReddish brownish bark. As a new plant the bark is a little glossy. As the vine gets older, it loses the glossiness and becomes a drier wood, peeling as the vine twists upward.
Leaf DescriptionLeaves are soft, smooth and mid-green in colour, growing to 15 cm in length. They are ovate to ovate-oblong in shape, sharply dentate with a cordate to rounded base.
Flower DescriptionFlowers are white and fragrant, growing up to 2.5 cm in diameter.
Fruit DescriptionFruit is fleshy and yellow-green, oblong to subglobose, growing up to 2.5 cm in diameter, and is edible.
Colour DescriptionBrown-grey branches and vines. Green leaves in the spring that change to a golden-bronze colour in the autumn. Small, yellow-green fruits.
Texture DescriptionA smooth green leaf and fuzzy green fruits hence its common name of Kiwi Vine. Its leaf texture changes to rough and crumbly and yellows in colour in autumn.

Photographs