We are open and are taking orders for Fall 2021 shipping. Most live plants ship according to our Fall Shipping Schedule.
Please review the schedule and the details on our product pages for more information.
Issai Kiwi
Begins fruiting the second year -- no pollinator needed!
- Genus: Actinida
- Species: arguta
- Variety: 'Issai'
- Item Form: Trade Gallon
- Zone: 3 - 8
- Bloom Start to End: Early Spring - Late Spring
- Fruit Color: Green
- Habit: Vining
- Plant Height: 12 ft - 20 ft
- Plant Width: 12 in - 20 in
- Bloom Size: 1 in
- Additional Characteristics: Bird Lovers, Butterfly Lovers, Easy Care Plants, Edible, Flower, Fragrance
- Bloom Color: White
- Foliage Color: Dark Green
- Harvest Season: Mid Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained
- Resistance: Heat Tolerant, Humidity Tolerant
- Soil Tolerance: Normal, loamy
- Uses: Border, Fall Color, Outdoor, Vines and Climbers
- Restrictions:
*Due to state restrictions we cannot ship to the following:
Canada, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands - show more
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.
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.