Actinidia arguta Miq.

Climbing shrubs, large, deciduous. Branchlets glabrous or rarely puberulent, tomentose when young, 7-15 cm; second-year branches grayish brown, glabrous, lenticels absent when young, small and inconspicuous when old; pith white to brown, lamellate. Petiole pinkish brown, 3-6(-10) cm, glabrous, sometimes rusty tomentose or setose; leaf blade abaxially green, adaxially dark green, usually ovate to broadly ovate to suborbicular, sometimes ovate-oblong, 6-12 × 5-10 cm, membranous to papery, abaxially glabrous to rusty tomentose to strigillose especially on midvein and lateral veins, barbate in axils of lateral veins or not, adaxially glabrous, midvein and lateral veins conspicuous abaxially, subconspicuous adaxially, lateral veins 5-7 pairs, straight or arcuate-ascending, anastomosing, veinlets reticulate, subconspicuous abaxially, inconspicuous adaxially, base rounded to cordate, rarely broadly cuneate, symmetrical or oblique, margin sharply serrate, apex abruptly acuminate. Inflorescences cymose, axillary or lateral, 1-7-flowered, brown to pale brown tomentose; peduncles 7-10 mm; pedicels 0.8-1.4 cm; bracts linear, 1-4 mm. Flowers greenish yellow or white, 1.2-2 cm in diam. when fully open. Sepals 4-6, ovate to oblong, 3.5-5 mm, margin ciliate, both surfaces glandular-tomentose, or abaxially slightly puberulent or glabrous. Petals 4-6, cuneate-obovate to orbicular-obovate, 7-9 mm. Filaments silky, 1.5-3 mm; anthers black or dark purple, oblong, 1.5-2 mm, sagittate at base. Ovary bottle-shaped, 6-7 mm, glabrous; styles 3.5-4 mm. Fruit greenish yellow or purple-red when mature, globose to oblong, 2-3 cm, rostrate or inconspicuously so, glabrous, lenticels and persistent sepals absent. Seeds ca. 2.5 mm. Fl. Apr, fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 58, 116*, 174, 232.

A temperate plant. It needs 150 frost free days. During the dormant period is can withstand heavy frosts. All selections need a chilling requirement to flower and fruit. They prefer a sunny position. It needs protection from strong winds. They need a well drained somewhat acid (pH 5-6.5) soil. The plants will not tolerate salty soils. They need plenty of water during the growing season. It occurs naturally climbing up trees in woodland at elevations of 100-2000 metres in China and Japan. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The sap of the vine can be tapped and drunk in the spring. The fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They can be eaten whole without peeling. The dried leaves are used for seasoning vegetable dishes.

The plants need a trellis to climb over. Plants benefit from being well mulched but mulch should not touch the vine. Winter pruning is important. Cuttings can be used. Soft wood cuttings are used.