This species has a wide range, being found in eastern Russia, Korea, and Japan and throughout much of China. Like many of the other Actinidia species that are widespread geographically, it is polymorphic. The variants tend to have distinct geographic regions, and some of them have been segregated into distinct varieties or even distinct species. One of the most distinctive is Actinidia arguta purpurea (syn Actinidia purpurea Rehder), which predominates in southwest China - it has fruits that are long and dark purple[].
The classification of the genus Actinidia is difficult and the taxonomy of some taxa is still confusing. Various studies since 1984 have estimated the genus to comprise anywhere between 54 - 76 species. The species of Actinidia are highly variable in their vegetative structures, as well as in their flowers and fruits, which is the main reason for the difficulty in the classification of the genus. A detailed study of the genus, based on a wide range of specimens, is needed to clarify the situation and it could be many more years of work until a natural classification system is found - Xinwei LI, Jianqiang LI, Djaja Djendoel SOEJART; Advances in the study of the systematics of Actinidia Lindley; Front. Biol. China 2009, 4(1): pp 55 - 61.
The treatment followed here is based mainly on the Flora of China[], with some later amendments[].

Common Name: Tara Vine