Actinidia deliciosa (A.Chev.) Liang & Ferguson, Actinidiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk; score: 6.5 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Actinidia deliciosa)

Other Latin names:  Actinidia latifolia var. deliciosa A. Chev.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Chinese-gooseberry, kiwi, kiwifruit, strawberry-peach

Habit:  vine

Description:  "The kiwifruit is borne on a vigorous, woody, twining vine or climbing shrub reaching 30 ft (9 m). Its alternate, long-petioled, deciduous leaves are oval to nearly circular, cordate at the base, 3 to 5 in (7.5-12.5 cm) long. Young leaves and shoots are coated with red hairs; mature leaves are dark-green and hairless on the upper surface, downy-white with prominent, light-colored veins beneath. The fragrant, dioecious or bisexual flowers, borne singly or in 3's in the leaf axils, are 5- to 6-petalled, white at first, changing to buff-yellow, 1 to 2 in (2.5-5 cm) broad, and both sexes have central tufts of many stamens though those of the female flowers bear no viable pollen. The oval, ovoid, or oblong fruit, up to 2 1/2 in (6.25 cm) long, with russet-brown skin densely covered with short, stiff brown hairs, is capped at the base with a prominent, 5-pointed calyx when young but this shrivels and dehisce from the mature fruit while 5 small sepals persist at the apex. The flesh, firm until fully ripe, is glistening, juicy . . . bright-green, or sometimes yellow, brownish or off-white, except for the white, succulent center from which radiate many fine, pale lines. Between these lines are scattered minute dark-purple or nearly black seeds . . .. . . . In some . . . types, the central core is fibrous or even woody. The flavor is subacid to quite acid, somewhat like that of the gooseberry with a suggestion of strawberry." (Kiwifruit (NewCrop))

Habitat/ecology:  "Climate: The kiwifruit vine grows naturally at altitudes between 2,000 and 6,500 ft (600-2,000 m). . . . [T]he climate . . . with heavy rainfall and an abundance of snow and ice in the winter. ¶ Autumn frosts retard new growth and kill developing flower buds, or, if they occur after the flowers have opened, will prevent the setting of fruits. . . . Kiwifruit vines in leaf are killed by drops in temperature below 29º F (-1.67º C), while dormant mature vines can survive temperatures down to 10º F (-12.22º C). . . . Alternating warm and cold spells during the winter will reduce flowering. . . . Soil: For good growth, the vine needs deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil, preferably a friable, sandy loam. Heavy soils subject to water logging are completely unsuitable. In Kiangsi Province, China, the wild plants flourish in a shallow layer of "black wood earth" on top of stony, red subsoil." (Kiwifruit (NewCrop))

"[Kiwi vines] are very sensitive to standing water, especially after bud break in spring." (Growing kiwifruit)

Propagation:  "The kiwifruit is a dioecious plant--it has separate male and female plants (with the exception of a few self-fertile cultivars)." "A pollinator is required for all fuzzy kiwi [PIER ed.: e.g., Actinidia deliciosa]." Vines can self-root. (Growing kiwifruit)

Kiwifruit can be propagated by seed or cuttings. "[Kiwifruit . . .] seedlings have a long juvenile period, requiring up to seven years before sex determination is possible." (Kiwifruit propagation)

Native range:  "Native to China, mainly in the southern and central parts, in mountain forests at 800–1400 m." (Kewscience: Plants of the world online)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  In New Zealand: "A large population of wild kiwifruit, mostly Actinidia deliciosa, has grown in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand over the past 30 years, fueled by the increasing commercial success of kiwifruit production. This fast-growing non-native woody vine has invaded native forest and scrub and commercial Pinus radiata plantations. The environmental impacts of wild Actinidia have led it to be listed as a Total Control Pest Plant in the Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Strategy. . . This action was taken because of the deleterious impacts wild kiwifruit had in young native scrub, tree fall gaps in mature native forest, and in young and old Pinus radiata plantations. Wild vines aggressively smother surrounding vegetation, constrict juvenile trees and interfere with natural regeneration." (Sullivan et al. 2007, p. 583)

"New Zealand is not the only temperate kiwifruit-growing country outside of China where A. deliciosa has naturalised. For example, wild plants have also been observed in several countries in Western Europe (Kasperek, 2003; Payne, 1997). Also, the Bay of Plenty is not the only region of New Zealand where wild A. deliciosa have been found. For example, wild kiwifruit are currently being proposed as an addition to the Auckland Regional Council’s next Regional Pest Management Plan (2007–2012)." (Sullivan et al. 2007, p. 584)

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	extirpated cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 40) "Chinese gooseberries had been introduced to Fonuakula shortly before 1940, but evidently they did not thrive, for none were seen on Niue in 1965." (Sykes, 1970, p. 40)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2017) ref specifies introduction to both North Island and South Island in New Zealand

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Europe Europe	Western Europe	introduced invasive	Sullivan, J. J., J. Mather, and W. Stahel (2007) (p. 584) "New Zealand is not the only temperate kiwifruit-growing country outside of China where A. deliciosa has naturalised. For example, wild plants have also been observed in several countries in Western Europe (Kasperek, 2003; Payne, 1997)."

Control:  "Wild vines can be reliably killed with any of sprayed Tordon® Brushkiller (picloram/triclopyr), Grazon® (triclopyr) and stump treatment with Vigilant™ gel (picloram)." (Control of wild kiwifruit in New Zealand)

A survey conducted by the New Zealand Department of Conservation reported in a 2002 publication no known biological control projects, either in New Zealand or internationally. (Biological control options for invasive weeds of New Zealand protected areas)