Actinidia tetramera  var.maloides
(Rosy Crab-Apple Kiwi)

Family - Actinidiaceae
Category - Climber
Origin - China
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - 6m or more
Width - 4m
Location - The Woodland Walk

Description: A Deciduous and vigorous climber with smooth, brown twining stems. Lanceolate to narrowly ovate leaves with pointed tips are mid to dark green with bristly, finely toothed margins. The leaves are marked with bold white patches (sometimes flushed with pink) from the tips of the leaves. This variegation is quite variable and may occasionally stretch across the entire surface of the leaf, and some leaves may remain entirely green. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants (Dioecious). The cup to bowl-shaped flowers are rose-pink and have red calyces. The Blooms are held singly or in small clusters and are produced from late spring into early summer. If both male and female plants are present, small, round, edible fruit may be produced on female plants.

Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Synonym - Actinidia pilosula (misapplied)

Flower:

Dioecious (male and female flowers are produced on separate plants). Small rose-pink, cup to bowl-shaped flowers have red calyces. The blooms are held singly or in small clusters along the stems and are produced in May and June. If both male and female plants are present, female flowers may be followed by small, round, edible fruit.

Flower colour: Pink

Flower shape: Cup to bowl-shaped flowers held singly or in clusters

Flowering time: May, June

Foliage:

Lanceolate to narrowly ovate leaves with pointed tips are mid to dark green and have bristly, serrate margins. The leaves are marked with bold white variegation (sometimes flushed with pink) from the tips of the leaves. The leaves are occasionally entirely white, or remain entirely green. The variegation is more pronounced in a full sun position. The leaves are Alternately arranged on the twining stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Lanceolate to ovate

Propagation:

Cuttings, grafting, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in a sheltered position in full sun to partial shade. Actininida tetramera var. maloides prefers a fertile, moisture retentive soil that is well drained.