Actinidia arguta var. cordifolia

(Miq.) Bean

Actinidiaceae Edible: Fruit 1,113 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Actinidia arguta is a perennial vine native to Japan, Korea, Northern China, and the Russian Far East. The fruit is known as kiwiberry or hardy kiwi, which are small kiwifruits without the hair-like fiber covering the outside, unlike most other species of the genus.

Description

A climber which can be 7 m long. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The small flowers are sweetly scented. The fruit is about 2.5 cm long and with a smooth skin.

Edible Uses

Kiwiberries are primarily produced for the fresh fruit market, sold in small punnets as a ready-to-eat fruit. Kiwiberries are also processed into jams, preserved fruit and juices. In China, kiwiberry food additives such as nutritional powders and fruit vinegars are commercially available, and kiwiberry wines are produced in the United States. In Korea, kiwiberries are known as darae (다래). Young leaves, called darae-sun, are often consumed as namul vegetable. The vines can be tapped in early spring to gather sap, which migratory farmers in Gangwon province are said to have used as a food source during famines.

Traditional Uses

Fruit are eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It prefers a loamy neutral soil. Although it can grow in light shade it fruits best in full sun. During the dormant stage it can tolerate temperatures down to -30°C.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Plants can be grown from seed. Fresh seed germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°C and stored seed can take longer. Seedlings should be transplanted out when 30 cm tall and after the last frosts. (Most seedlings are male.) Plants can be grown from cuttings.

Production

Fruit are produced on second year wood and on fruit spurs on older wood.

Notes

There are 40-60 Actinidia species. The Actinidiaceae are a mainly tropical family.

Synonyms

Actinidia cordifolia (Miq.)Actinidia platyphylla (A.Gray.)Actinidia rufa cordifolia (Dunn.)Actinidia rufa dulcisisma (Koidz.)

References (3)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications. p 2
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Trees Shrubs Brit. Isles 1:162. 1914