Plant Details

Actinidia deliciosa

Kiwi

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Actinidia deliciosa.

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Common names

6 names · 4 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Kiwi
Other languages (3)
Dutch
  • Kiwi
French
  • Kiwi
Language not specified
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa (A.Chev.) A.Chev. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Chinese Gooseberry — VernacularName.tsv, line 153183; taxon BP86J.
  • Kiwi — VernacularName.tsv, line 153184; taxon BP86J.
  • Kiwifruit — VernacularName.tsv, line 153185; taxon BP86J.

General information

Scientific name: Actinidia deliciosa
Accepted name (Kew): Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Actinidiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Actinidia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Kiwi

Plant characteristics

Layer: Climber
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 4.57–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Climbing, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Fruit, Seed
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(5)
Functions:
Fragrant, Paper

Description

Fruit - can be consumed raw or cooked. With a delicious flavor, the fruits can grow up to 8 cm long and are very juicy when fully ripe, featuring a fresh, tart taste. They contain small seeds that can easily be eaten along with the fruit. This fruit is rich in vitamin C, with fresh specimens containing 100 - 420 mg of vitamin C per 100 g and 8-14% carbohydrates. The acidity ranges from 1-2%, mainly due to citric acid. The fruits ripen in November and can be stored for up to 3-4 months. It is possible to harvest 8-30 tons of fruit per hectare. The leaves of this plant are nutritious.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/10
Harvest ends: 15/11

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Actinidia deliciosa (A.Chev.) C.F.Liang & A.R.Ferguson, name ID 2620664, row 702478; Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa (A.Chev.) A.Chev., name ID 2874080, row 1418150
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 823982; name ID 2620606; Actinidia Lindl.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Actinidia deliciosa

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1914319, ID 64Q3J: Actinidia deliciosa (A.Chev.) C.F.Liang & A.R.Ferguson (synonym). Accepted target: Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa (A.Chev.) A.Chev., ID BP86J, line 4348332.

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .