Hardy Kiwi Vine (Actinidia arguta 'Issai') is a fast-growing, deciduous woody vine native to the woodlands and mountain forests of eastern Asia, China, and Japan. This cultivar produces small, sweet, edible fruits while displaying attractive deep green foliage and fragrant, showy flowers in June. Growing 12 to 20 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, it thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 8, making it far hardier than its subtropical cousin. The 'Issai' selection distinguishes itself through a more restrained growth habit that requires significantly less pruning than the species, which can become rampantly vigorous in ideal conditions.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-8
240in H x 60in W
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Moderate
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The 'Issai' cultivar's defining strength lies in its combination of cold tolerance and restrained vigor. Unlike the species, which grows so aggressively it can climb 100 feet into forest canopies in its native habitat, 'Issai' stays manageable while still producing abundant, smooth-skinned kiwi fruits you can eat fresh, skin and all. Its fragrant June flowers add ornamental appeal before the fruit arrives, and it tolerates clay soil where many vines struggle, making it surprisingly accommodating for a plant with such vigorous parentage.
Hardy kiwi fruit can be eaten fresh directly off the vine, with smooth skin that requires no peeling. The small, marble-sized berries are sweeter and less acidic than fuzzy kiwis, making them prized for fresh eating, fruit salads, and desserts. The vine itself also serves an ornamental purpose, with its twining growth habit and lush foliage creating attractive living screens or shade structures over arbors and trellises.
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Start seeds indoors in a warm environment between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date in your region.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the last frost date, spacing vines 3 to 5 feet apart to allow room for mature width. Plant in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil.
Harvest fruits in late summer or early autumn when they reach full size and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Pick fruits regularly once they begin ripening to encourage continued production throughout the season. The small, smooth-skinned berries can be eaten fresh immediately after harvest with no peeling required.
Annual winter pruning is essential; cut each stem back to 8 to 10 buds to maintain vigor and fruiting potential. Follow with summer pruning to remove excessively long or unruly shoots that extend beyond your trellis or desired form. The 'Issai' cultivar requires significantly less pruning labor than the species due to its more controlled growth habit, making it more manageable for home gardeners who lack time for intensive maintenance.
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