Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Kiwifruit.
Actinidia chinensis
Pronounced ak-tin-ID-ee-uh chi-NEN-sis
Also known as Chinese gooseberry, Chinese soft-hair kiwi, Golden Kiwi, Kiwi, Kiwifruit, gold kiwifruit, golden kiwifruit
Kiwifruit is a vigorous, woody vine that produces delicious, fuzzy brown fruits with vibrant green or gold flesh. It loves to climb, so you will need a sturdy trellis or arbor to support its heavy growth. These plants are dioecious, meaning you need both male and female plants to get fruit.
At a glance
- Care level
- Moderate
- Plant type
- Deciduous vine
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Every 3 to 7 days
- Mature size
- 20 to 30 feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care
Provide a strong support structure and prune back long shoots to keep the vine manageable. Keep an eye out for leaf spots or wilting which can signal root issues from poor drainage. Ensure the soil stays consistently moist but never soggy.
- Watering
- Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid letting the roots sit in standing water.
- Feeding
- Feed with a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season in spring and summer.
- Pruning
- Prune heavily in winter while the plant is dormant to encourage fruit production.
- Repotting
- Repot only if the plant is container grown and has clearly outgrown its current pot.
- Soil
- Well draining, slightly acidic, rich soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.0
Safety
- Pets
- Kiwifruit is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
How to identify it
- Large, heart shaped fuzzy leaves
- Vigorous woody climbing vines
- Fuzzy brown oval fruits
- Small white or cream flowers
Science
- Family
- Actinidiaceae
- Genus
- Actinidia
- Order
- Ericales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Is your kiwifruit looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.