Actinidia
Actinidia (kiwifruit), is a genus of woody plants from temperate eastern Asia, from China to Taiwan, Korea and Japan, and extending north to southeast Siberia and south into Indochina. The best known species is Actinidia deliciosa, also known as Actinidia chinensis, which is originally called Chinese gooseberry, but now marketed as kiwi fruit.
The Actinidia has leaves that are alternate, simple, with a dentate margin and a long petiole. The Actinidia flowers are solitary or in axillary cymes. The flowers are usually white, with five small petals. Most of the species has separate male and female plants, but some are monoecious. The fruit of most species of Actinidia is edible.
| Botanical Name |
Actinidia |
| Features |
Deciduous climber
Colorful foliage
Flowers in summer, fruiting in autumn
|
| Planting condition |
In sun, sheltered from wind, in well-drained soil |
| Propagation |
Seed in autumn or spring, semi-ripe cuttings in summer, graft in summer |
| Pests and diseases |
Aphids, mildew |
Kiwi Fruit Photo Album
Actinidia, female flower of kiwi fruit
by Mnolf (GFDL)
Actinidia arguta
by Sten Porse (GFDL)
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