I took a look at your want list. Would any of the following be of interest? Aesculus californica - California Buckeye, Aristolochia californica - giant pipe vine. I may be able to get some from a friend of mine. Very unusual and exotic looking California native plant. Sechium edule - Chayote Squash, an edible perennial tropical vine/gourd - the fruit, leaves and roots are edible. Tamarindus indica -Sweet tamarind from Thailand - my son lives in Bangkok is getting some for me.

The easiest way to tell is to look at the center of the flowers - females have yellow centers with a few white filaments right in the very middle, males have solid yellow. Some males show pink variegation after becoming mature. Typically (but not always) Arctic/Hardy kiwis in stores that are not marked as male or female are males of the Arctic Beauty variety. It's a pretty, fast-growing plant popular among people who don't even know it can produce fruit - with the male being more vigorous and attractive.

Thanks Kiwinut. It's not directly under a maple, but close (7-10 feet?) enough to the trunk that it gets some shade. Definitely close enough that the maple roots suck up most of the water and nutrients (which is why I water regularly and use lots of compost and coffee grounds and try to remember to fertilize on occasion). But perhaps not enough shade. Should I erect a shade cloth temporarily? Could I gradually remove it so that the plant can handle a half-day sun? It has been insanely hot here. And dry too. If the kiwi live, what if I plant a bunch of annuals such as sunflowers around them so their leaves will shade the kiwi? I have some seeds for sunflowers that get about 12' tall, much higher than my arbor. What am I looking for when I look for root rot? What can I do if I find it? Can the plant be saved?? The one with the droopy (well, now pretty much just gone) leaves is the one that gets more shade than the other (that had the crispy leaves), although with this bed I'd suspect heat stress more than root rot. I'm assuming the slow growth of the new leaves on the crispy one is due to the maple sucking out nutrients from the bed. Everything that is not native grows slowly there, but seems healthy. Native stuff does great :). I don't want to over-fertilize though given they are so young. What is the best organic fertilizer (in addition to stuff like liquid kelp and fish emulsion) to use on these guys? How big of pots do you have them in and what do they grow onto? Don't they get tall?? What you say makes sense -- I also just got some hardy kiwi and it is along the north side of my house, not too much sun but some sun. They are growing like gangbusters, but the one that doesn't have another plant in front of it is getting some crispy edges. Time to plant something :). THANKS! :-) Mel

does anyone have an idea of what is causing my arctic kiwi leaves to turn brown and shrivel up? the plant has been quite robust all summer but the past couple of weeks, the leaves have been plagued with this situation. It appears to be happening to the mail plant but is now beginning to spread to the female. I have tried to look for pest but I don't seem to see any. I would like to do something ASAP so I don't lose the plant. These plants are both in large planters, have a southern exposure, and are watered with some regularity (without any showers every two-three days.) thanks for you help!