Actinidia melanandra aka Red Kiwi

Actinidia melanandra is a climbing shrub in the kiwi family, Actinidiaceae. Gardeners call it red kiwi or purple kiwi. It comes from central and southern China, where the climate is temperate. Wild plants grow in thickets and woods with broad-leaved trees. They also grow in mountain forests. Records place them at moist sites at a range of heights. These range from about 3,280–5,910 feet [1,000–1,800 metres] above sea level.

This vine grows fast and sheds its leaves each year. Its stems branch, lack hairs, and twine around supports. The green leaves have blue-green undersides. They have a coarse texture and may feel like leather or paper. Their shapes range from lanceolate, or lance-shaped, to egg-shaped. Give the vine firm support and shelter from strong winds. It can form a screen or cover a vertical space. It also suits gardens grown for food or to help pollinators.

Small white flowers have a mild scent and draw bees. Bees and other insects move pollen between the flowers. The flower details give summer as the bloom time. Another account says spring. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both sexes must grow nearby for fruit to form. One male can pollinate as many as eight female plants. Female flowers have white stigmas that reach past the anthers. Stigmas receive pollen, while anthers bear it. Male flowers have anthers but lack those long white stigmas.

The berries ripen in fall and have purple skins. Their flesh is red, with small seeds eaten with it. Accounts describe fuzzy fruit. But berries may lose their hairs when fully ripe. Fruit can reach about 0.15 feet [0.045 metres] long. Eat the berries fresh or cook them. They do not keep long, which limits sales as a crop. PFAF lists no known hazards and no known medicinal uses. This does not mean all uses are safe, or prove safety for pets.

Full sun gives the best fruit crop. The plants can also grow in part shade. Grow them in moist soil that drains well. They prefer loam but also grow in clay and sandy soils. The listed soils range from acid through neutral to alkaline. NC State lists USDA zones 5–9 but warns of frost damage. Young spring leaves face this risk. Colder sites may not suit the vine. Fruit forms on second-year wood and older fruit spurs. Winter is the advised time to prune. NC State reports no serious pest or disease problems.