Woody > Actinidia > Actinidia arguta > Actinidia arguta 'Issai'
Actinidia arguta
'issai'
Kiwi Vine, Tara Vine, Yang-tao
Origin: Temperate East Asia
Mike'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.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Actinidiaceae |
| Genus |
| Actinidia |
| Species |
| arguta |
| Cultivar |
| 'issai' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Vine |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H5 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -4 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -25 |
| Height |
| 7.6 - 14.5 m |
| Spread |
| 4.5 m - 6.2 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A deciduous vine that produces edible fruit. |
| Landscape |
| Makes an excellent ornamental specimen or attractive privacy screening in both home, urban and commercial settings. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant 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. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| This 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. |
| Pests |
| Generally 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. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Reddish 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 Description |
| Leaves 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 Description |
| Flowers are white and fragrant, growing up to 2.5 cm in diameter. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruit is fleshy and yellow-green, oblong to subglobose, growing up to 2.5 cm in diameter, and is edible. |
| Colour Description |
| Brown-grey branches and vines. Green leaves in the spring that change to a golden-bronze colour in the autumn. Small, yellow-green fruits. |
| Texture Description |
| A 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. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Missouri Botanical Garden. |
| Propagation |
| Propagate by seed sown in spring or autumn, or by semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer, or by layering in winter. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Edible fruit. |
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