Actinidia

plant genus

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July 23, 2026

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The genus Actinidia comprises woody vines native to East Asia, belonging to the family Actinidiaceae. This genus is most famously known for the kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa), which is also grown in New Zealand and California.123

Actinidia plants are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate individuals, with one male plant typically pollinating several female plants. The fruit is a berry with furry, brownish-green skin, containing translucent green flesh with numerous small, edible black seeds.3

Other species within the Actinidia genus are also cultivated for their fruit, including the golden kiwi (Actinidia chinensis), which has less hair and sweeter flesh. The family Actinidiaceae also includes shrubs and trees, with Actinidia being one of its prominent genera.32

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Actinidiaceae
…range of the family, while Actinidia (some 30 species) is dominantly East Asian and includes the kiwi fruit (A. chinensis). The genus Clematoclethra (about 20 species) is distributed throughout central and western China. The leaves of the family are spiral and are often strongly toothed. The flowers are usually either…
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…range of the family, while Actinidia (some 30 species) is dominantly East Asian and includes the kiwi fruit (A. chinensis). The genus Clematoclethra (about 20 species) is distributed throughout central and western China. The leaves of the family are spiral and are often strongly toothed. The flowers are usually either…
Read More