Hardy kiwi
Actinidia arguta
Grape-sized kiwis with smooth skin; vigorous.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 8
Light: part shade
Size: about 10 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: September to October
From: E. Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: East Asia, Japan & its islands. Hardy in zones 4 to 8.
The story
Northeast Asia: China, Korea, Japan and Siberia. Grape-sized and smooth-skinned, so you eat them whole.
Planting
Sun to part shade. Soil: well-drained, rich (pH 5.0–6.5). Spacing: 10 ft. Pollination: your 'Issai' vines are self-fertile. Other hardy kiwis need separate male and female plants.
Growing
Water: regular. Winter: Prune back to a framework. Spring: New shoots are frost-tender, so cover on late frost nights. Summer: Summer-prune long whips. Fall: Pick when the first fruits soften.
Harvest and use
Harvest: September. First crop: 3–5+ years.
What to watch for
Late spring frost, cats (they love the vines).
See if Hardy kiwi fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More vines
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home