Actinidia deliciosa (Kiwifruit)

Actinidia deliciosa (Kiwifruit) is a vigorous, deciduous, woody-stemmed, twining climber with broadly ovate, heart-shaped, lustrous mid-green leaves, 5-8 in. long (12-20 cm). Slightly fragrant clusters of cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers are borne in late spring. Kiwifruit is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. Successful fruit production requires a female cultivar and a male with viable pollen, unless a self-fertile cultivar is grown. Greenish brown, fuzzy, egg-shaped, edible fruits appear on female plants in early fall. They are sweet and tangy, their flavor somewhat reminiscent of pineapple. Kiwifruit is a frost-sensitive, temperate zone vine that requires plenty of heat to mature the fruit properly. Fast-growing, Kiwifruit is a rewarding plant with handsome foliage all summer long, delicious fruits and no serious pest issues. Easy to grow in a sheltered sunny position in the garden, it is perfect for trellises, arbors, fences, or walls.