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Climber Wall ShrubFruit Edible

Actinidia pilosula (Finet & Gagnep.) Stapf ex Hand.-Mazz.

A deciduous twining climber with long elegant ovate green leaves that can be variegated with pink and cream, with white tips, some flushed pink, on red stems. Small cup-shaped, fragrant pink flowers, if pollinated, are followed on female plants by edible yellow green fruit, ready to harvest by the first frosts of autumn.

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Sand

Loam

Clay

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Actinidiaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Genus: Actinidia are vigorous, mostly deciduous, twining climbers with simple ovate leaves which are variegated in some species. Small cup-shaped flowers may be followed on female or hermaphrodite plants by edible fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: SW China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered site. Prone to late frost and wind scorch damage. Plenty of sun will encourage the best foliage colours. See kiwi cultivation.

Propagation

Take softwood cuttings in the spring or propagate by layering.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Sub-tropical
Climber and wall shrubs
Conservatory and greenhouse
Edible fruit

Pruning

When grown for fruit, pruning is carried out in winter and summer. See kiwi fruit pruning and training.

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus and phytophthora root rot

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