Trees, shrubs or woody vines. Leaves alternate, simple. Flowers solitary or in clusters, bisexual or unisexual. Sepals and petals (4-)5(-7), free. Stamens numerous, often in 5 clusters opposite the petals, occasionally in some genera anthers splitting by terminal pores. Carpels fused, 3 or more. Ovary superior with numerous ovules having axile placentation. Fruit a berry or capsule.

Actinidia deliciosa is grown for its edible fruit.

Cultivated plants woody vines, leaves simple with star-shaped hairs; stamens numerous; anthers opening by terminal pores.

3 genera and about 360 species from tropical and temperate Asia and tropical America.

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Actinidiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.