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Issai Kiwi

Issai Kiwi

Begins fruiting the second year -- no pollinator needed!

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Trade Gallon
Item # 48004
Ships in Fall at the proper planting time for your zone. View Schedule
$22.95
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Daunted by the rampant growth of the kiwi vine, or simply unwilling to commit so much precious garden space to one plant? Let 'Issai' bring the beauty and flavor of kiwifruit to your garden without the giant size! This mini-Kiwi has a restrained habit, needs no pollinator, and sets the most delicious miniature fruit we have ever tasted. In the garden or even in containers, you will find it easy and rewarding.

Reaching just 12 to 20 feet long, this deciduous vine is much less vigorous than the species -- it grows easily but won't take over the garden. A twining climber, it offers glossy foliage, fragrant 1-inch white blooms in early summer, and a generous harvest of 1- to 1 3/4-inch fruit in mid-fall. If you've got at least 150 frost-free days each year, you can enjoy big harvests beginning just the second season after planting.

'Issai' has a really remarkable flavor, much sweeter and more succulent than the "fuzzy" kiwis found in most stores. The fruit is smooth, green, and just a little soft when fully ripe. If your season is short, pick the fruit a bit early and let it ripen in a paper bag with apples or pears. It's simple to harvest and always delicious.

Best of all, 'Issai' is self-fertile, so you need plant only one. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, and prefers good soil on the acidic side. Do not fertilize this vine too heavily; this can trigger lush foliage growth but poor flowering and fruiting. Prune it as needed in late fall or early winter, or leave it be -- this Japanese cultivar is adaptable.

'Issai' is perfect for containers, particularly in the shorter seasons of zones 4 and 5. It fruits somewhat late, making it a great choice for southern climates as well. You simply cannot go wrong with this delightful mini Kiwi! Zones 3-8.

  • Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
  • If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
  • Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
  • Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
  • Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
  • Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
  • Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
  • Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
  • Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
  • If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
  • Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.

Actinidia Kolomikta
Ornamental Kiwi Vine

Planting:

These plants are dioecious-ours are male, preferable for the color. Set out plants 4 to 6 feet apart in sun or filtered, light shade-against a southwest facing wall or fence would be ideal. A. kolomikta is not fussy about soil type


Maintenance:

Plants will need some initial training and support. Prune for aesthetics and to keep in bounds.


Zones:

Zones 3 to 9

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Wayside Difference Since its founding in 1920, Wayside Gardens has brought the rarest and highest-quality plants to the garden market. Wayside was founded in 1920 by two acclaimed growers who came together to pursue their shared vision of marketing all high-end plants for the serious garden enthusiast. Originally located in Mentor, Ohio, Wayside Gardens swiftly grew a reputation for the highest-quality plants and the most sophisticated clientele. In 1975, Wayside was purchased by the Park Seed Company, and moved to Hodges, SC.  The company has flourished since then, growing to become an undisputed leader in rare and unique plant growing.

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Tips for gardening in particularly hot, dry climates:


1. Water with a drip system whenever possible – soak the bed slowly and thoroughly to a depth of 10" to 12".

2. Watering deeply every 3 to 5 days is preferable to a shallow daily watering.

3. Water in the early morning, so foliage has time to dry.

4. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch or similar material to aid in water retention and help keep the roots cool during hot weather.