What soil does Kiwifruit grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, acidic.

Hardy down to -12 °C (USDA zone 8, RHS H5). Outdoors in this country it only survives with winter protection, or in a pot overwintered frost-free.

How far from the house should Kiwifruit be planted?

Plant it at least 2.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

How much water does Kiwifruit need?

Water need: high. Drought tolerance: low.

Kiwifruit

Actinidia deliciosa

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -12 °C. Drought tolerance: low.

Illustration of Kiwifruit — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A vigorous, fast-growing vine with large heart-shaped leaves that bears the fuzzy kiwifruit known from the shops and also shades a pergola. Most cultivars are dioecious, so a female vine needs a male nearby (for example Tomuri for Tuscia); a few, such as Jenny, are self-fertile and crop alone. It needs a warm, sunny, wind-sheltered spot and a very strong support, and the fruit is picked firm before the frosts and ripened indoors.

Watch out for

In Central Europe it is reliable only in a sheltered, warm position such as in front of a south wall: the dormant wood is damaged below about -10 to -12 °C, in a hard winter the vine can be cut back to the ground, and young plants need covering in their first years. It breaks bud early, and a late spring frost of only -1 to -2 °C kills the new shoots and with them that year's crop. Because of the long season the fruit does not always mature before the frosts in cooler places. Phytophthora root rot kills vines in waterlogged soil, leaves turn yellow on calcareous soil, and it needs regular, generous watering in summer.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: High
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 6 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -12 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white

All details

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	6 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	4.5–9 m × 1.8–3 m
Hardiness	down to -12 °C (USDA 8, RHS H5)
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, white
Harvest	October–November
Self-fertile	no
Water need	High
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	400 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

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