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Actinidia rubricaulis
Actinidiaceae FAMILY

Actinidia rubricaulis

Actinidia rubricaulis

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Climber
Growth—

Actinidia rubricaulis grows from the warm temperate zone of China through to the tropical zone in northern Vietnam where it can be found at elevations from 1,600 - 1,700 metres. It grows in montane areas of southern China where the climate is humid, the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,300 - 2,000mm and summers are long and hot, with a long frost-free period of 270 - 300 days depending on elevation[1]. It is likely to succeed outdoors in warmer regions of the temperate zome. Mature growth is likely to be fairly frost tolerant, though young growth is very susceptible to frost damage[2]. Prefers a sound loamy neutral soil[3, 4, 5]. Succeeds in semi-shade but full sun is best for fruit production[5]. Prefers a sheltered position[5]. Fruits are formed on second year wood and also on fruit spurs on older wood[6], any pruning is best carried out in the winter[7]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5]. A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required. Female plants produce morphologically perfect flowers with well-developed pistils and stamens, but their stamens produce nonviable pollen; flowers of male plants have small, rudimentary ovaries without viable ovules but their stamens release viable pollen[1].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[8]. It is probably best if the seed is given 3 months stratification[9], either sow it in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in late autumn or as soon as it is received. Fresh seed germinates in 2 - 3 months at 10°c, stored seed can take longer[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. When the plants are 30cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[PFAF]. Most seedlings are male[6]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, they must be kept well ventilated[9]. Cuttings of softwood as soon as ready in spring in a frame[PFAF]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame. Very high percentage[9]. Cuttings of ripe wood, autumn in a frame. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Actinidia+rubricaulis>

Pollinators

Bees, Insects

References

  1. [1]Genetic Resources of Kiwifruit: Domestication and Breeding — A. Ross Ferguson; Hongwen Huang · John Wiley & Sons, Inc. · 2007 · ISBN 978-0-471-73214-3 ↩︎A very detailed look at the horticultural prospects of kiwifruits (Actinidia species).
  2. [2]Wonder Crops. 1987. — Natural Food Institute, ↩︎Fascinating reading, this is an annual publication. Some reports do seem somewhat exaggerated though.
  3. [3]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  4. [4]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  5. [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  6. [6]The Plantsman. Vol. 6. 1984 - 1985. — ? · Royal Horticultural Society · 1984 · ISBN - ↩︎Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants including Actinidia and Wisteria species.
  7. [7]Gardening on Walls — Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. · Collins · 1983 · ISBN 0-00-219220-0 ↩︎A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
  8. [8]Growing from Seed. Volume 1. — Rice. G. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1987 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
  9. [9]The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. — Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. · Athens Ga. Varsity Press · 1987 · ISBN 0942375009 ↩︎A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
  10. [10]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
  11. [11]A Taxonomic Revision of Actinidiaceae of Vietnam — Nguyen M. Cuong, Djaja D. Soejarto & Jiangquiang Li · 2007 · http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/ ↩︎A treatment of the Actinidiaceae found in Vietnam
  12. [12]A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. — Usher. G. · Constable · 1974 · ISBN 0094579202 ↩︎Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
  13. [13]Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World. — Tanaka. T. & Nakao S. · Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo · 1976 · ISBN - ↩︎The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
  14. [14]Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Vol. 33. — Li. H. L. · Harvard University · 1952 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org · ISBN - ↩︎A botanical magazine, it contains a monograph of the genus Actinidia. Available to download from the Internet.
  15. [15]Plants for Human Consumption. — Kunkel. G. · Koeltz Scientific Books · 1984 · ISBN 3874292169 ↩︎An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
  16. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎