Actinidia arguta Romeo

'Romeo' is a male selection of Actinidia arguta intended for pollinating female plants. The male plants do not produce fruit, but offer a white, highly fragrant early summer flowering for pollination. Very decorative, this variety forms a vigorous liana that can be trained near one or more female plants along a trellis, arbour, or pergola. Planting is preferably done in autumn, in rich, non-calcareous soil. 'Romeo' is a very good pollination partner for the 'Fresh Jumbo' or 'Julia' varieties.

'Romeo' belongs to the Actinidiaceae family, just like its cousin the kiwi, which is more familiar to us and whose Latin name is Actinidia chinensis or A. deliciosa. Its ancestor, called the Siberian kiwi or summer kiwi, is native to the Far East, from Russia to Taiwan via Japan and China. It is a very vigorous climbing liana, reaching a height of 5 to 6m (16 to 20ft). Its foliage is deciduous and falls in autumn. It is very hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F). The stems bear large heart-shaped leaves, 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) long, with fine teeth ending in bristles. In early summer (June-July), fragrant and melliferous flowers appear, grouped in threes at the axils of the leaves. They are white-greenish with purple anthers.

For female plants, the flowering is followed by the formation of ovoid berries, smaller than kiwis (2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter), with smooth and thin skin. Their taste is reminiscent of gooseberries. It is sweeter than the usual kiwi and richer in calcium and vitamin C. The flavour is well suited to modern cuisine, enhances the fragrance of fruit salads, and lends itself to the preparation of sweet-savoury dishes. Please note that this variety is not self-fertile. This is a male plant that will not produce fruit. However, it does allow for the pollination of female plants. Like the kiwi, one male plant can pollinate around 5 to 6 female plants.

The beauty of Actinidia arguta, both in terms of its foliage and its fragrant flowering, means it can also be used for garden ornamentation. The plant will need to be trained on a sturdy support, such as a wall with strong wires, a trellis, an arbour, a tree trunk, or a fence.