Susan Harris
Susan Harris's blog about eco-friendly and urban gardening, plus the adventures of a DC-based garden writer, coach and occasional rabble-rowser.

Biggest Attention-Getter in the Garden – Hardy Kiwi Vine*

October 8, 2006 · 2 comments

Everybody wants to know what it is and when I tell ‘em, they just want to know more.  OkKiwi_1ay now, all at once:

  • Yes, it’ll bear fruit – someday.  My three vines finally started flowering a couple of years ago (after 6 years in place), so I have hope.
  • And no, the fruit won’t look like those furry brown things we get in the grocery store.  They’re more berry-sized and reportedlyKiwi3_2 delicious with cereal.
  • They require male and female plants together to flower and fruit.
  • It’s deciduous but definitely woody.
  • It’s happy with only a half-day of sun.
  • It’ll grow at least a foot a week during the season, so I warn that it’ll "eat your house" if you’re not careful.
  • And like possibly all vines, it’s high-maintenance as hell.

*Make that Actinidia for the botanically exact among us.

{ 2 comments }

1 sandy October 12, 2006 at 10:51 am

We just build a pergola this summer and I cannot decide what to plant on it. First it was maybe Rambling Rector rose, then I was thinking grapes of some sort. Now that it is fall I’m thinking maybe a virginia creeper. Decisions, decisions…

2 Pam October 13, 2006 at 8:15 pm

The vines look beautiful! I have the less hardy kiwi vine (I think) – Actinidia deliciosa (not arguta). I bought a male and a female plant (or so I was told…) – they’ve been in the ground for 7 years now, and I’ve yet to see a flower. I don’t mind so much – the vines are just wonderful – but boy would I love it to bear fruit!

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