Golden KiWi FRUIT (Actinidia deliciosa)

Growth Habit: In the forests where it is native, the plant is a vigorous, woody, twining vine (liana) or climbing shrub. It is not unusual for a healthy vine to cover an area 10 to 15 feet wide, 18 to 24 feet long and 9 to 12 feet high. In cultivation it is supported on a trellising system

The most common cultivars of are oval, about the size of a large hen's egg (5¨C8 cm / 2¨C3 in long and 4.5¨C5.5 cm / 1(3/4)¨C2 in diameter). It has a fibrous, dull brown-green skin and bright green or golden flesh with rows of tiny, black, edible seeds.

The fruit has a soft texture and a sweet but unique flavor, and today is a commercial crop in several countries, such as Italy, New Zealand, Chile, Greece and France.

Also known as the Chinese gooseberry,the fruit was renamed for export marketing reasons in the 1950s; briefly to melonette, and then later by New Zealand exporters to kiwifruit.

The name "kiwifruit" comes from the kiwi ¡ª a brown flightless bird and New Zealand's national symbol. Kiwi is also a colloquial name for the New Zealand people.

Kiwifruit is a rich source of vitamin C, 1.5 times the DRI scale in the U.S. per 100 grams. Its potassium content by weight is slightly less than that of a banana. It also contains vitamin E.and a small amount of vitamin A.

The skin is a good source of flavonoid antioxidants (though it may also retain agricultural pesticides). The kiwifruit seed oil contains on average 62% alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid..



Kiwifruit can be grown in most temperate climates with adequate summer heat. Whereas Actinidia deliciosa is not hardy, other species can be grown as substitutes


Kiwifruit vines require vigorous pruning, similar to that of grapevines. Fruit is borne on one-year-old and older canes, but production declines as each cane ages. Canes should be pruned off and replaced after their third year.