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Passiflora tarminiana - Coppens & V.E.Barney

Common Name banana passionfruit, banana poka
Family Passifloraceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in a truly wild location, the plant probably arose in cultivation.
Range S. America - Colombia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Passiflora tarminiana banana passionfruit, banana poka


John Ocampo wikimedia.org
Passiflora tarminiana banana passionfruit, banana poka
wikimedia.org

 

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Summary

Found in South America, Passiflora tarminiana or commonly known as Banana Passionfruit is a high climbing vine characterized by hairy stems and petioles. The leaves are three-lobed and also hairy. The flowers are large and pink, hang downwards, and the base has pale green bracts. The deep yellow to orange, oblong, aromatic fruits are eaten raw or made into desserts or drinks. Banana passionfruit is native to tropical South America and now widely cultivated throughout the world. It is also known for other common names such as curuba ecuatoriana, curuba India, curuba ecuatoriana, curuba quite?a, tacso amarillo, tumbo (Per?), and banana p_ka.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Passiflora tarminiana is an evergreen Climber growing to 10 m (32ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Drink  Sweetener

Fruit - eaten raw or used in ice creams, fruit salads, pies, jellies, to make drinks etc[301 ]. The yellow, oblong, aromatic fruits are highly prized for their juice[301 ]. The fruit is about 100 - 140mm long and 35 - 45mm wide[968 ]. The fruits of this species are a deep yellow to orange colour, the pulp is less aromatic and tart than the flesh of the pale yellow fruits of Passiflora tripartita mollissima, but is also somewhat inferior in flavour[968 ]

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Other Uses None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

The plant grows well at elevations between 2,000 - 3,000 metres or even more in the tropics, succeeding at lower elevations as it moves away from the Equator[968 ]. Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in dappled shade where it can grow up towards the sun[262 ]. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility[200 ]. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions[262 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 4.3 - 8[418 ]. A vigorous and disease-resistant species, it has escaped from cultivation in some areas, particularly New Zealand and Hawaii. It can invade native habitats, especially woodlands, and has been declared a noxious weed in both Hawaii and new Zealand[968 ]. The plant shows more resistance to pests and diseases than the related Passiflora tripartita mollissima[968 ]. This species hybridizes easily with other species in the subgenus Tacsonia[968 ]. Hybrids with Passiflora mixta and Passiflora tripartita are fertile and show intermediate phenotypes[968 ]. Hybrids with Passiflora cumbalensis can also produce fertile seed[968 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe along with the pulp which will help break down the seed coat and speed up germination[262 ]. Stored seed should be soaked for 24 hours in warm water and germination time can be reduced if the seed is then mixed with the juice of a fresh passion fruit (of any species)[262 ]. Even so, it can take 12 months for stored seed to germinate[262 ]. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 - 24c[262 ]. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough[262 ]. Cuttings of young shoots, taken at the nodes. Layering. Very easy[262 ]. Air layering.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Banana passionfruit, Banana Poka, Curuba.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, North America, Peru, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Tasmania, USA, Venezuela,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Plants have escaped from cultivation in several areas of the world[262 ], and the plant has been declared a noxious weed in America.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Passiflora actiniaPassion FlowerClimber10.0 8-11 FLMHNM301
Passiflora antioquiensisBanana PassionfruitClimber5.0 10-12 FLMHSNM400
Passiflora caeruleaPassion Flower, Bluecrown passionflower, Blue Passion FlowerClimber10.0 9-11 FLMHNM301
Passiflora edulisPassion Flower, Purple granadillaClimber9.0 9-12 FLMHNM411
Passiflora herbertiana Climber9.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Passiflora incarnataMaypops - Passion Flower, Purple passionflower, Apricot Vine, Maypop, Wild Passion Flower, Purple PaClimber6.0 7-11 FLMHNM330
Passiflora laurifoliaYellow GranadillaClimber15.0 10-12 FMHSNM422
Passiflora ligularisSweet Grenadilla, Passion FlowerClimber5.0 9-12 FMHSNM500
Passiflora membranaceaPassion FlowerClimber5.0 8-11 FLMHNM30 
Passiflora mollisimaBanana Passion FruitClimber5.0 5-9 FLMHNM30 
Passiflora popenoviiGranadilla de QuijosClimber8.0 10-12 FMHSNM400
Passiflora quadrangularisGiant Granadilla, BadeaClimber15.0 10-12 FMHSNM420
Passiflora speciesPassion FlowerClimber5.0 - FLMHNM30 
Passiflora tetrandra Climber9.0 -  LMHSNM102
Passiflora tripartita mollissimaBanana PassionfruitClimber5.0 10-12 FMHSNM400
Passiflora umbilicataPassion FlowerClimber5.0 8-11 FLMHNM20 
Passiflora x colvilliiPassion FlowerClimber10.0 6-9 FLMHNM20 
Passiflora x exoniensisPassion FlowerClimber5.0 9-11 FLMHNM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Coppens & V.E.Barney

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A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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