Plant Identification Learning Module:
Fruits & Nuts

Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

Kiwi fruit grows on a vigorous, woody, twining vine or climbing shrub reaching 30 feet. Its alternate, deciduous leaves are oval to nearly circular, three to five inches long, with long petioles. Young leaves and shoots are coated with red hairs. Mature leaves are dark-green and hairless on the upper surface, with prominent, light-colored veins below. The fragrant flowers have five to six petals, white at first, changing to buff-yellow. The oval fruit, about the size of a large hen’s egg, has russet-brown skin densely covered with short, stiff brown hairs. The fruit has a soft texture, green flesh, edible black seeds and a unique flavor.


Kiwi orchard in New Zealand
© 2006, James Shook.

Foliage of kiwi plant
Underside of kiwi plant's leaf
Male kiwi flower with bee
2007, Bob Hille.

Female kiwi flower
2002, Wouter Hagens.

Kiwi fruit hanging from branch
(cc) 2007, Luca83. This photo is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0.

Kiwi fruit with one cut in half
(cc) 2005, André Karwath. This photo is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5.