How often to water variegated kiwi in California
In July on the north-central coast, established variegated kiwi in loam needs a deep watering about every 13 days: about 2.2 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.1 gallons a week. Variegated kiwi is a vigorous deciduous climbing vine from the forests of northeast Asia, reaching 15 to 20 feet on a trellis or fence. Its heart-shaped leaves open purplish green, and on mature plants many are splashed white, then pink, with the best color in full sun. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and females bear small, edible green fruits in fall.
How often to water variegated kiwi, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Soil dry an inch or two down at the base in summer means the vine needs water, since it likes evenly moist soil
- Leaves staying plain green point to too much shade or a young plant, not to a watering problem
- Wilting and yellowing over waterlogged soil can point to Phytophthora root rot
- Chewed, flattened young shoots often mean cats, which are drawn to this plant much like catnip
- No fruit on a flowering vine is normal for a male plant or a female with no male nearby
How to water it
- Water at the base of the vine with drip or a soaker, keeping the soil evenly moist through summer
- Soak about 8 inches deep, then water again before the top inch dries
- Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, beside a sturdy trellis, fence or wall
- Prune while the vine is dormant in winter or early spring
- Protect young plants from cats with a wire cage until they are established
Through the seasons
Keep a new vine evenly moist through its first summer while it roots in. Leaves open purplish in spring and color white and pink by early summer, when small, lightly fragrant flowers hide among them. Fruits on female vines ripen in fall, and the leaves drop for winter. Prune in winter or early spring while it is dormant. Winter rain usually covers the bare vine on the north-central coast. WUCOLS rates variegated kiwi moderate water on the north-central coast. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the south coast. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the Central Valley, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert.
In pots
Variegated kiwi can grow for a few years in a large, deep container fitted with a sturdy trellis. Use a fertile, well-drained mix and a pot with drainage holes, in full sun for the best leaf color. Through summer, feel the mix every day or two and water before the top inch dries. Let excess drain, then empty the saucer. Prune in late winter, and keep the mix just damp while the vine is bare.
- A year
- no figure
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
WUCOLS lists Variegated Kiwi as not evaluated for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.
Monthly water need by climate zone
Variegated Kiwi: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.18 | – | – | – | – | – |
| May | 1.46 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | 1.49 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.47 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.31 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Year | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 10
Rated not evaluated in the Central Valley, like variegated kiwi. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Anemone ClematisClematis montananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Privet-Leaved JasmineJasminum leratiinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Chilean BellflowerLapageria roseanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Etruscan HoneysuckleLonicera etruscanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Tatarian HoneysuckleLonicera tataricanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Golden Flame HoneysuckleLonicera x heckrottinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Brazilian NightshadeSolanum seaforthianumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Amur River GrapeVitis amurensisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Crimson Glory VineVitis coignetiaenot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Beach Morning GloryCalystegia soldanellanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes variegated kiwi, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does variegated kiwi need per day?
In July on the north-central coast, established variegated kiwi needs about 0.2 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.7 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for variegated kiwi change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates variegated kiwi separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, not evaluated in the Central Valley zone, not suited to this region in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
Why isn't my variegated kiwi turning pink and white?
The white and pink markings develop on mature plants and need full sun. Male plants show the best variegation. Give a young vine time and a sunny spot.
Do I need a male and a female variegated kiwi?
Only for fruit. One male for every three or four females gives the best crop. If you grow it for foliage alone, a single male is the showiest choice.
Are variegated kiwi fruits edible?
Yes. Female vines bear greenish, edible fruits about an inch long that ripen in fall. They form only when a male plant grows nearby.
Why do cats love my kiwi vine?
Cats are attracted to this plant much as they are to catnip and can damage young vines. Protect new plants until they grow large enough to shrug it off.
Can you overwater variegated kiwi?
Yes. It likes evenly moist soil, but it needs drainage, and waterlogged ground can lead to Phytophthora root rot. Let the top inch dry before watering again.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Actinidia kolomikta, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf