Actinidia kolomikta

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Actinidia kolomikta

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ericales
Family: Actinidiaceae
Genus: Actinidia
Species: A. kolomikta
Binomial name
Actinidia kolomikta
(Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim.

Actinidia kolomikta (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. (Arctic Beauty or Kolomikta) is a species of deciduous dioecious woody vines in the genus Actinidia native to temperate mixed forests of the Russian Far East, Korea, Japan and China (Eastern Asiatic Region). It is a very long-lived vine, which ultimately grows to 8-10 m. A. kolomikta is the hardiest species in the genus, at least down to about -40°C/-40 F in winter, albeit somewhat susceptible to late spring frosts, and is cultivated in cold temperate regions as an ornamental plant and also because of relatively small (2-5 g) kiwifruit-like delicious berries it produces. There are a number of named cultivars bred for the latter purpose in the Soviet Union, Russia and Poland, though it takes years for a plant to start yielding, and because A. kolomikta is dioecious a male pollenizer plant is required for the wild vines and most of the cultivars. The plant is attractive to cats, which can severely damage the vine.

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