Hardy Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia arguta)

(Actinidiacea – silver vine family)

Hardy Kiwi is a cold-hardy deciduous vine that bears delectable fruit from late summer through late fall. Fruits are about the size of a grape and have been coined the name ‘kiwi berries’ (due to their appearance and the way they are eaten, picked from the vine, like a berry, The whole fruit is edible). The strong-growing vine has dense, dark green foliage and bears fragrant but inconspicuous white flowers in early June (here in Western Massachusetts). The fruit, which ripens in late summer or fall, is about 3/4″ – 1-1/4″ long, and tastes much like the commercial kiwi fruit, to which it is closely related, but is sweeter with smooth skin. The seeds are very small and not noticeable, so eating the fruits is like eating large seedless grapes. Fruit can be picked and eaten at once, with no need to remove skin or seeds. Most selections are hardy to around -30° F. In this species’ native Asian habitat. The vines typically grow wild in trees, where they climb about 40′. We offer several varieties of Actinidia arguta.