There are many limitations. The bloom times often don't overlap or the different species may be incompatible. Many different species can be crossed, but fruit set is often poor, fruit may abort, or fruit may be small.

The nursery probably is referring to A. deliciosa (fuzzy kiwifruit) under its old name, A. chinensis. They were considered the same species at one time, but have been separate species for about 25 years now.

A. deliciosa will pollinate arguta, but most bloom too late. Matua blooms early and long, and will work with late blooming arguta such as Ananasnaya, but probably not with early blooming argutas.

~kiwinut

thanks for your answer kiwinut!

theoretically could:
A.deliciosa pollinate arguta - yes
arguta pollinate deliciosa,kolomikta?
kolomikta pollinate arguta,deliciosa?

in the corvallis collection there are some species of which only females are maintained.
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cor/catalogs/actacc.html

is there a way to get fruits of this species? arguta or kolomikta as pollenizer?

I also have some bloom time questions:
deliciosa - early (like you mentioned)
arguta - early or late...
kolomikta - ?
or is the kind of cultivar more deciding?
is there an online bloomtime chart available?

thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: corvallis kiwi collection

theoretically could:
A.deliciosa pollinate arguta - yes
arguta pollinate deliciosa,kolomikta?

No, even when you overcome the difference in bloom times, arguta pollen usually will not set fruit on deliciosa or kolomikta.

A. kolomikta typically will not pollinate arguta or deliciosa, but deliciosa pollen will pollinate kolomikta and set fruit, but without viable seed. However, this would never happen naturally due to bloom periods. Part of the problem is bloom times, but there are also differences in the number of chromosomes. Kolomikta is diploid, arguta is tetraploid, and deliciosa is hexaploid. A. chinensis can be diploid or tetraploid.

A. deliciosa is very late. Most selections are way too late for pollinating arguta.

Arguta is relatively early, and kolomikta is extremely early. A. kolomikta will break bud here in early to mid February, sometimes earlier, and would never fruit if left outside due to March and April frosts. Arguta also leafs out just before the last frosts, and also gets zapped frequently.

I don't know of any charts listing the bloom times of the various species and selections. Also, these will vary in different climates, so there is not a lot to go on. From my attempts at growing a number of species here, the general rule is that most species are not hardy here, and most leaf out way too early. There are a few exceptions that I am working with now.

Kiwinut is more knowledgeable of the geneology of various kiwis than I but his frost problems are specific to his climate. Arguta is reasonably reliable here in southeastern NY although in my experience kolomitka freezes most years. Arguta flowers about 2 weekds later.