The most commercially important species is Actinidia deliciosa, the fuzzy kiwifruit. Since kiwifruit is a dioecious plant ( produces male and female flowers on separate vines), a male and a female vine are required for fruit production. Plants (varieties) of both sees are essential for fruit production, and they must flower at the same time to ensure pollination. Male vines are usually spaced which the male-female ratio varies from 1:6 to 1:10. In a commercial kiwifruit vineyard, one male vine is generally planted to serve as a pollenizer for eight female vines.

Kiwifruit are wind- and insect-pollinated. Commercial kiwifruit growers place three to five beehives per acre in their vineyards during flowering to ensure good fruit set. Female kiwifruit flowers are not attractive to bees due to their lack of nectaries. Fortunately, however, in their search for pollen from the male flower, the bees inadvertently enter and pollinate the female flowers. The ultimate size of a fruit depends both on good growing conditions and on the number of seeds that have been fertilized.

The fuzzy kiwifruit is really a subtropical plant and will not tolerate temperatures much lower than 10 degrees F. The long growing season required for fruit to mature can also limit production. A frost-free period of at least 225days is required for adequate ripening. Winter damage most commonly occurs on the trunks, so protective insulating wraps warm climates, this species requires around 600 hours of winter chilling (below 45 degrees F) for sufficient bud break and 850 to 1100 hours of chilling for maximum flowering.

There are a number of commercially available female (fruit-producing) varieties, of which 'Hayward' has dominated the industry for many years. The most commonly named male varieties are 'Matua' and 'Tomuri.'