Variegated Kiwi Vine Plants

Actinidia kolomikta Vine Plants

Sometimes called the Kolomikta Vine, Variegated Kiwi Vine, Ornamental Kiwi, or Michurin actinidia, Actinidia kolomikta is a twining climber growing to 6, even 8 metres high and about as much across. It can be kept smaller and is easy to prune if you want to do that. The plants are either male or female and it is not practical to sex them before sale, so your Actinidia will only carry fruit if she is female and if there is a male close enough to be found by a wandering bee. 
Browse the rest of our range of climbing plants here.

If you want to grow Kiwi fruit, then get Jenny instead, she is self-fertile and bred for great fruit, although she does not have the interesting foliage of kolomikta. 

Growing Actinidia 

It is a good sized woody climber. It does not form the thick trunks that you find with Wisteria, but over time it can produce branches that are a few inches thick. These need support, so thought should be given to straining wires or the like before planting. Use strong wire: it will be there for a long time. Choose a sunny wall or fence, the variegation of the leaves is much more pronounced and lasts longer when in the sun.

Actinidia has masses of leaves and so is a good choice for covering south facing eyesores such as ugly brickwork or a breeze block garage.

Young plants need to be protected from cats - they find it as attractive as catmint.

Actinidia Characteristics

• Height to 6-8m
• Spread to 6-8m
• Foliage: Pink, White Green variegated foliage. Deciduous
• Flowers: Small, single sexed white flowers in June
• Scent: None
• Position: Best colouring in full sun
• Other: RHS Award of Garden Merit

Look out for

Not a lot is the answer. Actinidia is just about disease free and it is the hardiest member of its family. If it has a weakness it can be touched by a late frost as its buds are breaking, but we have one at home that has been happy since 2002. Prune it in winter or very early spring to keep it in shape and to remove any dead wood and crossing branches.

Did You Know?

Actinidia kolomikta was first imported into the UK in 1878 from the island of Hokkaido in Japan. It also grows in temperate areas of eastern Russia and "kolomikta" is probably from the region, meaning "mixed colours", referring to the leaf colouring.