Kolomikta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kolomikta |
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Actinidia
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kolomikta
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Actinidia kolomikta, also known as the kolomikta or variegated-leaf hardy kiwi, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Actinidiaceae family. This plant grows naturally in the cool, mixed forests of the Russian Far East, Korea, Japan, and China.
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About the Kolomikta Plant
This plant is a type of woody vine that lives for a very long time. It can climb and spread, growing up to 8 to 10 meters (about 26 to 33 feet) tall. The Actinidia kolomikta is known for being very tough. It can survive very cold winters, even temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F). However, it can be hurt by frost that comes late in spring.
Growing Kolomikta in Gardens
People often grow Actinidia kolomikta in their gardens because it's a beautiful ornamental plant. It was first brought to Western gardens in 1878. A plant collector named Charles Maries found it in Sapporo, Japan. Local people there called it miyamatatabi.
This plant is special because some of its leaves have amazing pink and white colors. It also grows small berries that look a bit like tiny kiwifruit. These berries weigh about 2 to 5 grams (0.07 to 0.18 ounces). Many types of Actinidia kolomikta have been grown in Russia and Poland to produce more fruit.
It takes several years for a plant to start growing fruit. Also, A. kolomikta plants are usually either male or female. This means you need both a male plant and a female plant for the female plant to produce berries. The male plant provides pollen for the female plant.
This plant has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it is an excellent plant for gardens.
Pests that Affect Kolomikta
Interestingly, Actinidia kolomikta is very attractive to cats. Cats often like it even more than catnip or valerian. Because of this, cats can sometimes damage the vines. One person who grew these plants early on found that his cats had bitten all his new plants down to tiny stubs!
What's in a Name?
The name Actinidia comes from the Greek word for 'rayed'. This refers to the way the flower parts look like rays.
The name Kolomikta comes from a local name used in Amur, a region in eastern Russia. It probably refers to the many different colors you can see on the plant's leaves.
Images for kids
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A close-up of the leaves showing the pink and white colors.
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A vine climbing on a support.
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The plant with its small berries.
See also
In Spanish: Actinidia kolomikta para niños
