Description
Hardy Red is a red-fleshed kiwi berry belonging to Actinidia purpurea, a species grown specifically for its pigmentation and brighter flavor profile. The grape-sized fruit develops red skin and flesh at full ripeness and leans sweet-tart rather than purely sweet. It’s a natural choice for growers who want a hardy kiwi with visual impact and a more pronounced flavor edge. Kiwi berries—also known as hardy kiwi—are smooth-skinned, bite-size kiwis that you eat whole, skin and all.
Unlike fuzzy kiwis from the grocery store, these grape-sized fruits require no peeling and soften slightly as they ripen, developing a sweet, tropical kiwi flavor that’s easy to enjoy fresh. The vines themselves are vigorous, cold-tolerant climbers well suited to trellises, pergolas, and arbors, and once established they can produce heavy crops, making kiwi berries one of the most rewarding perennial fruits for home growers.
Overview
- Fruit type: Kiwi berry (hardy kiwi) with smooth, edible skin
- Fruit size: Grape-sized berries
- Flavor: Sweet-tart, brighter and more acidic than green kiwi berries
- Color: Cranberry-red skin with red flesh at full ripeness
- Growth habit: Vigorous climbing vine requiring a sturdy support system
- Pollination: Female; requires a compatible male hardy kiwi vine for fruiting
Growing Details
Latin Name: Actinidia purpurea
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; well-drained soil
Rootstock: Own-root (propagated from cuttings)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–9
Ripening Time: Typically late summer into fall; timing varies by region
Fruit Size: Grape-sized; can run slightly smaller than standard green kiwi berries
Pollination: Female; requires a compatible male hardy kiwi vine planted within 20–30 feet for fruiting. A proven option is our Male Hardy Kiwi (Meader).
Size at Maturity: Vigorous vine capable of 15–25+ feet of growth when trained; requires a strong trellis, pergola, or arbor
Bearing Age: Typically 3–4 years after planting once vines are well established and properly trained
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Hardy Red is best judged at full ripeness, when red coloration is deepest and the sweet-tart balance becomes clear. Harvesting too early mutes both color and flavor.
- Regional Insight: Hardy Red performs well across a wide range of climates and is often chosen by growers who want a kiwi berry with more acidity and visual contrast than green-fleshed types.
- Taxonomy Note: Actinidia purpurea is closely related to—and often grouped with—the more commonly grown Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwi). In practical growing terms, Hardy Red behaves much like other hardy kiwi vines in vigor, training, and care, with its primary distinction being red skin, red flesh, and a brighter, sweet-tart flavor profile.
- Explore more kiwi berry and hardy kiwi vines in our collection: Kiwi & Hardy Kiwi Vines
