Practical
Plants

Actinidia chinensis

a deciduous member of the Actinidia genus in the family Actinidiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Height
7.5 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees, Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees, Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked. A delicious flavour. The fruit is up to 3cm across[11]. Fresh fruits contain 100 - 420mg vitamin C per 100g and 8 - 14% carbohydrate[13]. Acidity is 1 - 2%, mainly citric acid[13]. The fruit contains a number of small seeds, but these are easily eaten with the fruit[K]. The leaves are eaten cooked in times of need as a famine food[9].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruits, stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative[7]. They are used in the treatment of stones in the urinary tract, rheumatoid arthralgia, cancers of the liver and oesophagus[7]. A decoction of the leaves is used to treat mange in dogs[13]. The stem-juice is used in the treatment of gravel[13].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Paper is made from the bark[8]. If the bark is removed in one piece from near the root and placed in hot ashes, it becomes very hard and can be used as a tube for a pencil[8]. The plant is said to have insecticidal properties (no more details)[13].

Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Pencil

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China.
Habitat
Thickets and oak forests on slopes or in ravines, 200 - 2300 metres[2][11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[6]. It is probably best if the seed is given 3 months stratification[4], either sow it in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in November or as soon as it is received. Fresh seed germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°c, stored seed can take longer[6]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. When the plants are 30cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[K]. Most seedlings are male[5]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, they must be kept well ventilated[4]. Cuttings of softwood as soon as ready in spring in a frame[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very high percentage[4]. Cuttings of ripe wood, October/November in a frame.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sound loamy neutral soil[1][12]. Succeeds in semi-shade but full sun is best for fruit production[12]. Prefers a sheltered position[12]. The dormant plant is hardy to about -15°c[10], though new growth in spring is very susceptible to frost damage[3]. This species is the parent of the cultivated Kiwi fruits, these cultivars are now included under the name A. deliciosa[12]. Fruits are formed on second year wood and also on fruit spurs on older wood[5], any pruning is best carried out in the winter[14]. The flowers are sweetly scented[15]. This is a climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around branches etc[12]. The ssp. A. chinensis setosa.(newly named, no author as yet) is found in Taiwan from 1300 - 2600m[11]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[12]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985. Royal Horticultural Society 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  9. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

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  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  11. Li. H. L. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Volume 32. Arnold Arboretum. 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  13. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

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  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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