Variegated Kiwi, Actinidia kolomikta Dr Szymanowski

Description

Quite possibly one of the most unmistakable of all the climbing plants and sure to get your garden noticed, Actinidia kolomikta is a vigorous, deciduous climber with twining stems and leaves that look as though they have been dipped in paint. Beautifully fragrant flowers are also produced in summer, giving you an added bonus. Also known as the kolomikta vine or variegated hardy kiwi, actinidia is grown specifically for its heart-shaped leaves which are splashed with a generous helping of pink and white and make a particularly striking feature when grown against a sunny wall or the side of a house. It’s a fast-growing plant, that once established, is easy to grow and look after. Actinidia can be kept compact if needed and is easy to prune as mature branches tend to remain just a few inches thick, therefore maintenance is not a chore. Dr. Szymanowski is a fruit-bearing female form of this variety of ornamental kiwi. its fruits will appear in mid to late august and ripen in September. A good choice for covering ugly fences and walls as this ornamental climber is densely leaved and soon covers the offending structure. Young plants tend not to have the attractive variegation so don’t worry if your plant remains green for a few seasons, the colour will eventually develop. Fully deserving its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure that this is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience. You can therefore plant this in the garden with confidence, for stunning displays for many years to come. Supplied as 3 x established plants in 9cm pots, ready to plant out, growing to a height of 5m in approx. 10 years. *Do bear in mind that young plants need to be protected from cats as they are attracted to the leaves and will quickly decimate them! (just google ‘cats and actinidia’ and see for yourself!)