Arctic Kiwi

The Arctic Kiwifruit, scientifically known as ***Actinidia kolomikta***, is a unique, cold-hardy relative of the common fuzzy kiwifruit. It is highly valued as much for its ornamental beauty as for its edible fruit. Here is a detailed description: ### 1. The Fruit (Kiwiberry) * **Size and Skin:** The fruit is very small, typically about the size of a large **grape or olive** (around $1$ inch or $2.5$ cm long). Crucially, the skin is **smooth, hairless, and thin**, making it entirely edible. You can eat the whole fruit right off the vine, without peeling. * **Color:** The skin is usually bright **green** to light green, sometimes with a subtle pink or red blush. The flesh inside is typically **emerald green** with the characteristic ring of tiny black, edible seeds. * **Taste:** It is known for its sweet, aromatic flavor. It is often described as a **sweet-tart** taste, similar to the common kiwi but often sweeter and with a distinct, appealing fragrance. * **Nutrition:** It is particularly high in **Vitamin C**. * **Hardiness:** It is one of the **most cold-hardy** of the kiwi species, able to withstand winter temperatures as low as $-35^\circ \text{C}$ to $-40^\circ \text{C}$ (Zone 3/4). ### 2. The Vine (Ornamental Value) * **Growth Habit:** It is a fast-growing, deciduous, twining woody vine that requires a strong support structure like a trellis, arbor, or fence to climb. It can reach heights of $15$ to $20$ feet. * **Variegated Foliage:** This is the plant's most striking ornamental feature, particularly on the male vines. The leaves, which are heart-shaped, emerge green and then develop beautiful, irregular splashes of **creamy white** and **rosy pink** at the tips and margins as they mature throughout the spring and early summer (hence the common name, "Tricolor Kiwi"). * **Flowers:** The vines produce small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers in late spring, which often attract pollinators. * **Dioecious:** Like many kiwi varieties, most cultivars are **dioecious**, meaning separate male and female plants are required for the female plants to produce fruit. Male plants are often grown just for their superior foliage variegation.