Actinidia kolomikta

Actinidia kolomikta, also known as kolomikta, is a remarkable shrub known for its changing foliage, which is beautifully variegated with pink and cream on a green background in spring, even though its discreet small white flowers emit a fragrance in late spring. This deciduous bush with climbing stems is also interesting for its moderate growth, making it more suitable for small gardens. It prefers to be grown in indirect sunlight, for example against an east or southeast-facing wall, in a damp, rich, well-drained soil, preferably not limestone.

Actinidia kolomikta belongs to the family of Actinidiaceae. It is native to an area ranging from China to Japan, Korea, and Russia, where it can be found in the Amur River region and on Sakhalin Island, for example. Its natural habitat includes moderately dense coniferous forests, where it can form thickets along riverbanks or in clearings. In the southern part of its range, it grows up to 1300-1400 m (4265-4593ft) in altitude on rocky plateaus. In the north, however, this species does not climb above 150 m (492ft) in altitude. This plant was introduced into cultivation in 1855.

It is a fast-growing woody plant with climbing stems that quickly reach 5 to 6 m (16 to 20ft) in length. They will need to be guided towards a support on which they will twine. The main asset of this kolomikta is its foliage: when the leaves emerge in spring, they are bronze in colour, then green. Later, around May, before flowering, most of the leaves turn a bright white. After flowering, in June-July, they become pink, then crimson red. In autumn, before falling, they take on different shades of yellow, pink, or purple-violet. Like most Actinidia, this species is dioecious: there are separate male and female plants, with only female plants bearing fruit in the presence of a male nearby. Flowering occurs around mid-June and lasts about twenty days. The flowers are small cups with a diameter of 1.5 cm (1in), formed by 6 white to pinkish petals, arranged in small clusters. They emit a pleasant fruity fragrance. When the fruits form, they resemble small dark green kiwis striped with darker green, measuring 3 cm (1in) in length and 1.5 cm (1in) in width. They are edible but not very fragrant. They ripen around mid-September.

Actinidia Kolomikta is loved by gardeners for its spectacular colours, as well as by felines. Your cat - or your neighbour's cat - will come to sniff and nibble on its young shoots in spring with delight... Plant it against a wall that you have covered with a large trellis, on a small garden shed, or even on a fence. It can also be grown in a container, but its growth will be less vigorous. To accompany it, consider a small summer-flowering clematis such as Picotee or Little Mermaid, for example. In partial shade, it will create a beautiful scene with shrub hydrangeas.