Actinidia tetramera var. maloides
Ornamental actinidia
Also known as Actinidia pilosula
- Height × spread
- 3m × 3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This unusual climber makes dense and attractive cover on a warm wall. It has black stems and quite large lance-shaped leaves that are dark green with bristled teeth on their edges. These are held on reddish stalks and the ends of the leaves are variably covered with a large white blotch. In spring it produces clusters of dainty bell shaped flowers. These hang pendulously on individual stems, and are a soft pink shade with rose pink at the petal edges. This plant grows to around 3m (10ft) in height with an equivalent spread.
- Flower colour
- Pink
- Foliage colour
- Green, White
- Stem colour
- Black
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 3m
- Spread
- 3m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Spring-Summer · Planting
Prune after flowering
Remove any dead or damaged branches, or any growth that looks very untidy. Trim the plant back if necessary to keep it within bounds.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.