Chinese Gooseberry, Kiwi Fruit, Yang Tao (Actinidia deliciosa)

Chinese Gooseberry, Kiwi Fruit, Yang Tao
Actinidia deliciosa

Young growth is covered with red hairs

Are you sure about the identity of your kiwi? I have exactly the same vine in looks and you will see if you search around that the kiwis vary a little. First, I don't see any references showing the leaf for Actinindia melandra but I do find images for A. melanandra. Is it referring to the same vine? I have been leaning toward A. deliciousa. My vine is self sown. I didn't plant it , the compost heap did and I don't think I've ever seen a purple kiwi in the stores. I don't know how I could have A. melandra/melanandra. I have it for several years and it has been hardy without any help in my zone 6. It did grow next to a rock edge so that may have helped it along. In any case, it is a huge vine in the wrong spot and I have to think of a way to move it at some point. Don't want to loose it. It's like having a hardy begonia outside. I think the leaves and red fuzz are beautiful. Mine has never flowered but I cut it back each year. I am sure we have the same species.

Hi-

I grew the vines from seed, which Summer Hill Seeds labeled melandra. http://summerhillseeds.com/actinidia-melandra-kiwi-vine-p-573.html

I never thought of looking up A. deliciosa, though, and you are right about the similarities. I guess I just never considered it because it's supposed to be at least 7a, if not 8a, which is a stretch in my garden!
It's such a confusing situation, because no two sites agree on anything. Indeed, one of the images I found had acute leaves, which leads me to believe that the leaf shapes are variable within the species, if not for each plant. I haven't gotten flowers yet, either, although perhaps that's because this is only its second full year in the ground. One of the vines is about 12' now, and the other is 6'. Perhaps, like Wisteria, it takes several years to produce flowers.

After further Googling; http://plants-a-float.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21_25&products_id=342

Another interesting observation: I have tried A. kolomikta 'Arctic Beauty' three times in the same spot, and all died pretty quickly. It's a very moist spot which doesn't drain terribly quickly. And yet, the A. deliciosa is happy as all heck. Hmmmmm.....

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll write to the DG folks to correct my entry.

I figured you got the seeds from Summer Hill since it is the only reference with that name. I didn't know at first what my vine was. Someone ID it on GW but they thought it was A. Chinensis. Since then, I've been trying to compare. I think there is some mislabeling with kiwi's that has made it hard over the years but as it is now, there are finally enough pictures for me to be fairly sure.

I think you're right, and I admire your tenacity! I emailed the DG people, and they moved my pics to A. deliciosa. Desert Tropicals and San Marco Growers list A. chinensis as a synonym for A. deliciosa, so perhaps that's part of the confusion. Wait five minutes, and those pesky botanists will change the name altogether!

Perhaps part of the confusion is that Kiwis are not the most popular vine, especially in the Chicago area. Since the fruit is considered from New Zealand, I think people assume it's not hardy and pass it by. My local nursery Has A. kolomikta, if even that, and they didn't even buy any more this year. (I already have A. kolomikta 'Arctic Beauty', which I've read is male, so maybe my others will fruit next year- fingers crossed.) I called every other nursery listed in the phone book, and none had a Kiwi of any kind. Pshaw!

BTW, great pic! And is that a Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' next to it? Great combo!

It is Gold and Silver which is a fantastic dogwood. It is actually showier than come of the red twigs in winter which tend to be dark red. Unfortunately, the kiwi, having been around a few years, is overcoming the dogwood. The kiwi needs a new home. I'm afraid to move it though as I feel like I have something more rare or so I thought. Even if I could get another kiwi, I'm not sure it will be as hardy. I see that it needs a big armature. Unfortunately, all the fences around my property belong to neighbors. I could try a tree. I tried sticking a few twigs in water but they wilt. I guess I will have to make a serious effort to root some.
I've tried to grow A. kolomikta from seed once and nothing happened. Then when this appeared and was identified as kiwi, I thought there was a chance it could be one since I dumped the ungerminated pot back into the garden, especially since the kiwi wasn't suppose to be hardy. At first, I thought I had some kind of self sown begonia since I grow a lot of those. I thought it would disappear that first summer but it came back again. Then I thought - Whoa! Maybe I have some new kind of hardy begonia! Lol!