Climber · Actinidiaceae family
hardy kiwi
Actinidia arguta
In short a 10-second read
Hardy kiwi (climber) grows to 7.6–9.2 m tall and 2.2–6.1 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. It flowers in May–June; the flowers are white. Hardy to −40 °C.
× spread 2.2–6.1 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −40 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: clay, humus-rich, loamy, sandy
Soil pH 5.5–8.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
May–June · white
Pruning
cut back by a third (December–February); thin out old stems (June–August)
Planting
container plant: October–April
Winter protection
cover with horticultural fleece
Overwintering
In winter it needs protection.
Before the first frosts: cover with horticultural fleece.
- Cover with horticultural fleece
- Hardy to −40 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does hardy kiwi flower?
In May–June; the flowers are white.
Does hardy kiwi tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does hardy kiwi need?
At maturity 2.2–6.1 m wide and 7.6–9.2 m tall; recommended spacing 250 cm.
Does hardy kiwi survive winter outdoors?
Yes, with protection: cover with horticultural fleece.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 18 expert sources. Last checked 28 September 2026.
Show sources (18)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Actinidia arguta
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Actinidia arguta
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Actinidia arguta
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Actinidia arguta
- Wikidata (CC0) — Actinidia arguta
- EPPO Global Database — Actinidia arguta
- osiva-semena.sk — „Minikiwi – Actinidia arguta"
- RHS - Actinidia arguta (f/F)
- RHS - How to grow kiwi fruit
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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