5 Live Plants Issai Hardy Kiwi Actinidia arguta Starter Vines

Issai Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta) is a vigorous, cold-tolerant fruiting vine prized for its smooth, fuzz-free skin and sweet, tropical flavor. This self-fertile variety allows you to grow kiwi fruit without needing a separate male pollinator, making it an excellent choice for home gardeners looking to add a unique fruit-bearing climber to their landscape. Its fast-growing nature and ornamental foliage make it equally attractive on trellises, arbors, and pergolas.

The Issai Hardy Kiwi produces abundant crops of small, grape-sized fruit that can be eaten fresh, added to salads, or used in jams and desserts. The vine is dioecious but this variety is self-fruitful, so a single plant can bear fruit. It performs best in full sun to partial shade with well-draining, fertile soil, and benefits from a sturdy support structure for the twining growth. Prune regularly to maintain shape and encourage airflow, which supports healthy growth and reliable fruiting.
Species: Actinidia arguta
Variety: Issai
Type: Perennial fruiting vine
Plant_Habit: Climbing, twining vine
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-draining, fertile loam
Days_to_Harvest: 2 to 3 years after planting
Zones: 3 to 8
Germination: Not applicable
Sowing: Not applicable
Spacing: 10 to 15 feet apart
Notes: Self-fertile variety; requires sturdy trellis or arbor for support