Family: Actinidiaceae
Actinidia deliciosa, commonly known as kiwifruit, is a fast-growing, woody, deciduous vine native to China. It is a dioecious species, requiring both male and female plants for successful pollination and fruit production. The plant is characterized by its large, heart-shaped leaves, fragrant white to cream-colored flowers, and fuzzy brown fruit. While valued commercially for its edible fruit, it is also recognized as a potential invasive species risk in certain favorable climates, such as Hawaii, where its vigorous growth may allow it to climb over and smother native trees and vegetation.
The vine thrives in well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions, from full sun to partial shade, though it fruits best with ample sunlight. Its management is crucial in non-native regions to prevent escape and ecological damage. Control methods for unwanted spread include physical removal of seedlings and vines, taking care to remove the entire root system, and applying appropriate herbicides to cut stumps to prevent resprouting. Despite this invasive potential in specific habitats, it remains a major horticultural crop in controlled orchards worldwide for its nutritious fruit.
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m in temperate, demonstrating environmental versatility (May only pose a threat to higher elevations in tropical island ecosystems)
- Naturalized in New Zealand
- Invades native forest and forest plantations
- Hairs on fruit may cause throat irritation and some people may be allergic to fruit
- Shade-tolerant
- Smothers native vegetation and plantation trees
- Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally and accidentally by people
- Seeds may form a persistent seed bank
- Able to resprout after cutting to stump (may require herbicide treatment)
Low Risk Traits:
- A temperate species that may only threaten higher elevations of tropical island ecosystems
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Important commercial crop for edible fruit
- Dioecious
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Requires 3+ years to reach maturity