Have you ever wondered where Kiwi fruit comes from, does it grow on a Kiwi tree or Kiwi plant?
The Kiwi Fruit Tree (Kiwifruit plant) is a fruiting vine that’s native to Southern China where the Kiwi Tree also has another name,26 the Chinese Gooseberry Tree.
There are many species of Actinidia,25 of which are also found across China and range all the way to Japan and even some areas of Russia.
During the 1800s, many specimens of the plant were collected and cataloged for the Royal Horticultural Society.15
Many people wonder if it’s a Kiwi Tree or Kiwi plant, and the answer is that it is a vine, but interestingly enough, you can grow it upon a tree.
This complete guide explains the unique characteristics of the Kiwi Tree (Kiwi plant) and explains how you can identify and grow your own kiwis and ensure that you have this nutritious fruit on hand.
Kiwi fruit trees with their lush green leaves winding vines, and fuzzy brown fruits have captivated growers and consumers alike. Their unique appearance and exotic taste have made kiwi fruit globally renowned. For those who have never seen a kiwi fruit tree in person images provide a glimpse into their distinctive beauty.
A Brief Background on Kiwi Fruit Trees
Kiwi plants are native to China and were brought over to New Zealand in the early 1900s. Commercial production began in the 1960s in New Zealand, which remains one of the top kiwi exporting countries. Italy, Chile, France, Japan and the United States also grow significant amounts of kiwis. California and Italy boast the largest productions outside of New Zealand and China.
The kiwi vine is a sprawling plant that can spread extensively if not pruned. They are typically supported using trellised rows to maximize sunlight exposure and ease harvesting. It takes around 5-7 years for the vines to reach full production capacity. The plants are dioecious meaning male and female flowers grow on separate vines. Only the female kiwi vines produce the fuzzy brown fruits adored around the world.
Capturing All Aspects of Kiwi Plants through Photography
Photography allows us to document the different facets of kiwi fruit trees throughout the seasons. From manicured rows of vines heavy with plump fruit ready for harvest to close-ups of the delicate white flowers blossoming in spring, images showcase kiwi plants in all their glory.
Spring Images Highlight Delicate Flowers and Emerging Vines
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White, star-shaped kiwi flowers blanket the vines, signaling pollination season.
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Fuzzy red kiwi buds emerge, soon to open into flowers.
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Young green tendrils show the vines starting their upward climb along the trellises.
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Close-up images showcase the intricate details of flowers and buds.
-Rows of vines with an explosion of white flowers make eye-catching landscape images.
Summer Brings Lush Foliage and Developing Fruits
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Vines have grown extensively, creating a ceiling of green leaves overhead.
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Young hairy kiwi fruits are captured dangling from vines.
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Images show the size progression of the fruits over summer.
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Leaves maintain their bright green color and healthy appearance.
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The winding vines and dense foliage create striking images.
Fall and Early Winter Offer Views of Vibrant Vines and Ripe Kiwis
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Vines turn vibrant shades of red and purple for the fall season.
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Plump, ripe kiwis hang heavilty, ready for harvest.
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Fully filled-in vines and kiwi fruits make for bountiful images.
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Ripe fruits, leaves, and vines create color pops against neutral backgrounds.
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Harvest images show pickers collecting and sorting kiwis.
Winter Scenes Reveal Bare Vines and Prep for Next Season
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Leafless vines sprawl across trellises.
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Close-ups of kiwi bark detail the vines’ intricate textures.
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Images show pruning of vines and general winter orchard maintenance.
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Rows of trimmed vines create geometric patterns.
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Cold weather and snow add new appeal to winter vineyard shots.
Conveying Size and Growth of Kiwi Vines
Photographs visualize key indicators of vine growth and development:
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Flowering shows pollination and a progression into fruit production.
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Increasing size and quantities of leaves demonstrate plant vigor.
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Extension of vines along trellises displays rapid growth.
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Expanding fruits mark the successful shift from flower to kiwi.
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Plump, ripened fruits indicate the approaching harvest.
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Pruning and winter dieback represent the end of the fruiting cycle.
Emphasizing Unique Kiwi Vine Features and Fruit
Certain distinctive aspects of kiwi vines captivate photographers, including:
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The way vines vigorously climb up trellises and across the top of rows.
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Contrast of the dark fuzzy kiwi skin against vibrant green leaves.
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Subtle color changes in fruits as they ripen.
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The oval kiwi shape and numerous individual fruits hanging from vines.
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Soft, hair-like fibers covering the exterior skin.
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Dramatic color shifts in foliage from spring to fall.
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Coiling, curving stems and tendrils wrapping around structures.
Conveying Uses for Kiwi Fruit Images
Photographs of kiwi vines and fruits have many applications:
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Promotional marketing for kiwi growers and distributors.
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Infographics and growth charts for agricultural sites.
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Decorative backgrounds featuring kiwi vines and fruits.
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Illustrating the stages of plant growth and fruit development.
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Educating people on kiwi plant characteristics.
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Enhancing recipes featuring kiwis with relevant imagery.
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Serving as landscape inspiration with rows of lush vines.
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Promoting wellness uses and health benefits of kiwis.
Tips for Capturing Stunning Kiwi Fruit Tree Photos
A few key practices enable photographers to take eye-catching photos of kiwi plants:
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Use side lighting to illuminate vines and rows.
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Pick times of day with ideal lighting such as morning and evening.
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Focus tightly on flowers, fruits, and foliage details.
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Capture wide-angle overviews of full vines and orchard rows.
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Return to the same vines throughout the seasons for progression.
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Scout locations ahead of time for best backgrounds and angles.
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Leverage colors, patterns, contrasts, lighting for visual interest.
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Use minimal depth of field for soft backgrounds.
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Experiment with different heights, perspectives, and lenses.
Appreciating Kiwi Scenes Through Vivid Images
Kiwi fruit trees demand a thoughtful, creative photographic approach to fully convey their signature vibrancy and liveliness throughout the seasons. Compelling kiwi images allow everyone to appreciate these plants – whether or not they have the chance to see them in cultivation. Vivid photos will continue stirring admiration for the kiwi’s unique place in the horticultural world.
Kiwi Fruit (Kiwi Berries)
The Kiwi fruit (Kiwi berries) has become a sought-after fruit for its unique blend of sweet and bitter flavors. It’s a culinary favorite and is consistently used in many desserts and other dishes.
The first record of the Kiwifruit was written during the Song Dynasty in the 12th century, which at the time was being consumed for medicinal purposes and rarely cultivated.
People who first tasted the fruit outside of China thought the flavor was reminiscent of Gooseberry, so it gained the name Chinese Gooseberry, even though there is no relation to the gooseberry family, Grossulariaceae.
The Kiwifruit belongs to the Actinidia family instead.
The fruit became quite popular with American and British service people stationed in New Zealand during the Second World War, which eventually led to its exportation to Great Britain, followed by California in the 60s.2
The Kiwifruit eventually became an agricultural commodity in New Zealand and since the 1940s the development of this commercially viable cultivar has exported $2.9 billion in gross value.3
Many people wonder “Is Kiwi a tropical fruit?”, mostly due to its interesting appearance and flavors closely associated with tropical citrus. But the answer is no, it’s a subtropical fruit that can thrive in a wide range of climates, including the colder mountains of China.
Kiwi Tree Growing Zone
The Kiwi Tree growing zone has a wide bandwidth, ranging between USDA Zones 3 and 9 depending on the type of Kiwi you’re growing.
If you aren’t sure what a USDA growing zone is, then we can cover it before we discuss Kiwis and their preferred climates. The USDA hardiness zone was created to help direct botanists and gardeners determine which plants are suited to grow in their local area.23
In simple terms, the USDA grow zone categorizes zones into temperature highs and lows and further categorizes which plants can grow in those zones.
One of the biggest contributing factors is the minimum winter temperature, as well as the harshness of climates, like the amount of rain and other extreme weather events. While the USDA hardiness zone map is useful, it’s not always perfect and tends to become less accurate the further east of the 100th meridian you go.
This is due to the fact that West of the 100th meridian you will find a high variance of both geographical features, as well as quick shifts in weather, elevation, and humidity. These microclimates can drastically reduce the accuracy of using the USDA hardiness zone map, since you can have 2000 ft elevation in one area while being at sea level 10 kilometers away, all in the same hardiness zone.
When it comes to the best growing zones for Kiwi Tree (where to grow), it’s dependent on the variety. It can be grown between USDA Hardiness Zones 3 and 9, depending on the variety, meaning it does well in a wide range of climates.
The Hardy Kiwi vine can take the abuse that cold brings and produces similar Kiwi fruit which you would find in the grocery store. Whereas the Hayward Kiwi prefers a growing zone between 7 and 9, meaning it wants a much warmer climate and is far less tolerant of colder winters.
Raintree Nursery’s Kiwi Growing Guide
FAQ
Can you grow kiwi in the United States?
Kiwifruit production in the United States is mostly concentrated in California because kiwifruit is not cold hardy. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in hardy kiwi production due to its high nutritional values, smooth skin, and sweet taste. Hardy kiwi is also known as kiwiberry.
Why can’t you eat the skin of a kiwi?
How long does it take for a kiwi tree to bear fruit?
Plants may take three or four years to start fruiting. Varieties are either female, male or self-fertile. Most of the widely available varieties are self-fertile, but do check. If you buy a female variety, you will also need a male or a self-fertile variety nearby in order for it to crop.
Do you need 2 kiwi trees to produce fruit?
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Dioecious Plants:Kiwifruit plants are dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers on different plants.
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Male Plant Function:The male plant’s main role is to produce pollen, which is necessary for the female plant to set fruit, according to the OSU Extension Service.
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Female Plant Function:The female plant is the one that will bear the fruit, according to The Ohio State University.
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Self-Fertile Varieties:While most kiwis require both sexes, there are some self-fertile varieties, like the Issai Hardy Kiwi, that can produce fruit on their own, according to Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co.. However, even with self-fertile varieties, adding a male plant can increase fruit size and yield, according to The Ohio State University.
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Planting Ratio:Typically, one male plant is planted for every 6 to 8 female plants, according to Minnesota Extension.
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Identifying Sex:Male and female plants can be distinguished by their flowers. Male flowers only have pollen-producing anthers, while female flowers have a central, multi-branched pistil that develops into the fruit, according to the OSU Extension Service.
Where can I find Kiwi tree stock photos?
Browse Getty Images’ premium collection of high-quality, authentic Kiwi Tree stock photos, royalty-free images, and pictures. Kiwi Tree stock photos are available in a variety of sizes and formats to fit your needs.
What does a Kiwi tree look like?
A Kiwi tree has healthy kiwi fruit growing on its branches and displays white flowers during blooming. The green new leaves on the tree are visible in the spring garden setting.
How does a kiwi fruit grow?
A kiwi fruit grows on a tree (Actinidia chinensis). Here is a depiction of a kiwi tree plantation with branches bearing clusters of fruits. The image shows a healthy kiwi fruit growing on a tree in a garden, with solar light and leaf movement.
What is a kiwi fruit?
Based in South Australia, specialising in mainstream, rare and unusual perennial plants along with roses and ornamental trees. Actinidia deliciosa or the Kiwi Fruit is a deciduous vine that produces large plum shaped fruits that have furry green/brown skins and wonderfully refreshing green pulp inside.
Is Kiwi a tree?
Kiwi, Actinidia deliciosa, is a deciduous climbing vine or shrub in the the family Actinidiaceae grown for its edible fruits. The plant is vigorous and woody with nearly circular leaves which have long petioles and are alternately arranged on the stems.
How tall do kiwi fruit bushes grow?
Kiwi fruit bushes are vigorous plants that can grow up to 9m tall. It needs plenty of sunlight and shelter in order to thrive. The fruits grow on vines, and its large leaves are heart-shaped. Latest Fruit Finds See plant deals from top retailers on our site – hit shop! Jump To