{"product_id":"actinidia-kolomikta","title":"Actinidia kolomikta","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActinidia kolomikta\u003c\/strong\u003e, sometimes called the variegated kiwi vine or hardy kiwi, is one of the most arresting climbers you can grow outdoors in Britain. Its real magic is in the foliage: as the vine matures, the green heart-shaped leaves become dramatically splashed and dipped in shades of pink and creamy white, as though dipped in paint. No two leaves are quite the same, and the effect is at its boldest on a sunny wall from late spring through summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond the foliage, this \u003cstrong\u003eActinidia kolomikta\u003c\/strong\u003e plant offers small, lightly fragrant white flowers in early summer, followed (where a male and female plant grow together) by smooth-skinned, grape-sized fruits that ripen to a sweet, edible kiwi in autumn. It is a deciduous, twining climber that can reach around 4-5m, taking roughly five to ten years to fill its space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a genuinely tough, fully hardy vine, shrugging off the cold across the UK once settled in. Give it a sheltered, sunny or partly shaded spot, ideally a south or west-facing wall or fence where morning sun can light up the variegation. A sheltered position also protects the soft spring growth from late frosts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun to partial shade, with shelter from harsh winds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any fertile, moist but well-drained soil, chalk, clay, loam or sand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupport:\u003c\/strong\u003e trellis, wires or a pergola for the stems to twine around\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant it against a warm wall, over an arch, or let it scramble up a pergola where the colour can be admired at close quarters. Like other climbers in the kiwi vine family it appreciates a deep, moisture-retentive root run, so mulch well in spring and water through dry spells while it establishes. Cats can be drawn to the stems much as they are to catnip, so a little protection around a young plant is wise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs part of our Hardy Exotics range, every \u003cstrong\u003eActinidia kolomikta\u003c\/strong\u003e we send out is a strong, well-rooted plant, carefully grown and ready to bring something genuinely unusual to a British garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm","offer_id":57809513775487,"sku":"ACTIKOLO15","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/actinidia-kolomikta","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}