The kiwis are a very interesting group of economically important plants, comprised of more than 20 species worldwide. Hardy kiwis are a vigorous long-lived woody vine or climbing shrub that needs a strong support or trellis. They are handsome plants, producing a mass of white flowers in early spring followed by attractive, sometimes variegated foliage, and can yield over 100 pounds of fruit annually per plant.
Most varieties require separate male and female plants to produce a crop.
Hardy kiwi fruits, which are virtually unknown in the Midwest, are smaller than fuzzy kiwi fruits, with edible smooth green or reddish skins and a flavor similar to but uniquely different from the fuzzy kiwis. The demand for hardy kiwi fruits is expected to increase as they become better-known and more widely cultivated and available. A few mail-order nurseries are now offering a limited number of hardy kiwi varieties for sale to home gardeners and commercial producers. Very little information is available on cultivating hardy kiwis in Missouri, including variety selection, insect and disease problems, pollination, and yield potential. While hardy kiwis should grow successfully in southwest Missouri, they may be susceptible to winter injury when young, and the flowers and developing fruits may be damaged by late spring frosts.