What's eating my issai kiwi?

Issai Kiwi shares all pest vulnerabilities of Actinidia arguta but, as a self-fertile compact vine often grown in smaller gardens, cat damage to the crown is the single most notorious threat. Japanese beetles attack foliage in the US, deer browse new growth, and birds take ripe fruit in autumn.

Plants are extremely attractive to cats; crown, roots, and bark gnawed and rolled on, potentially killing young plants. Cage the crown with wire mesh until the trunk thickens; thorny stems or chicken wire flat on the ground deters rolling.

Leaves skeletonised, leaving a lace of veins; beetles aggregate in hot midsummer weather. Hand-pick morning beetles; spray neem oil or pyrethrin; remove affected leaves.

Terminal shoots and leaves browsed; damage worst in spring flush and autumn. Deer fencing or spray repellents containing putrescent egg solids applied around the vine.