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Passiflora edulis - Sims.f.

Common Name Passion Flower, Purple granadilla
Family Passifloraceae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. America - Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Passiflora edulis Passion Flower, Purple granadilla


Passiflora edulis Passion Flower, Purple granadilla
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Passiflora edulis is an evergreen Climber growing to 9 m (29ft 6in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Oil
Edible Uses: Drink  Oil  Sweetener

Fruit - raw or cooked. An agreeable cooling taste[2, 3, 46, 171], somewhat like an orange with a mixture of acid[4]. The ripe aromatic fruit is allowed to wrinkle and develop sweetness, it is then eaten raw, juiced, made into a syrup or used in sauces, cakes etc[183]. The fruit is about 5cm in diameter[200]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[183]. Grown commercially in Australia and New Zealand.

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.
Stimulant  Tonic

The pulp of the fruit is stimulant and tonic[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fencing  Oil

A vigorous plant making a good screen on a fence or trellis.

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season, otherwise it is not fussy[1, 3]. Plants are not very frost tolerant and are best grown in a greenhouse[3]. However, the roots are somewhat hardier and can survive the winter outdoors in many areas of Britain if the soil is prevented from freezing[88]. If plants are cut down to the ground by frost they can regenerate from the base[200]. There is also the possibility of growing plants on rootstocks of P. caerulea which might make them hardier[200]. This species is often cultivated in warmer climes than Britain for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[46, 183]. The fruit can be freely produced in Britain in hot summers[166]. Roots of outdoor grown plants should be restricted to encourage fruiting[1]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[219]. If fruit is required it is best to hand pollinate, using pollen from a flower that has been open for 12 hours to pollinate a newly opened flower before midday[88, 200]. The flowers open in sunny weather and do not open on dull cloudy days[219]. The flowers have the scent of heliotropes[245]. A climbing plant, attaching itself to other plants by means of tendrils that are produced at the leaf axils. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Certain cultivars are light frost resilient surviving in warmer temperate climates.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse. If sown in January and grown on fast it can flower and fruit in its first year[88]. The seed germinates in 1 - 12 months at 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. It you are intending to grow the plants outdoors, it is probably best to keep them in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Mulch the roots well in late autumn to protect them from the cold. Cuttings of young shoots, 15cm with a heel, in spring[1]. Leaf bud cuttings in spring. Cuttings of fully mature wood in early summer. Takes 3 months. High percentage[3].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Passion Fruit, Granadilla, Aul aanp, Bai xiang guo, Buah negeri, Buah susu, Garendal, Granadiglia, Granadilho, Grenadille, Ji dan guo, Kudamonotokeiso, Liliko'i, Linmangkon, Louki, Magalendendele, Maracuja-roxo, Maracuya, Markisa, Maseche, Matunda, Munchi, Obutunda, Pasionaria, Purpurgrenadille, Qaranidila, Sawarot, Soh-brap, Tikeiso, common passionfruit, fleur de la passion, flor de la pasión, granadiglia incarnata, granadilla, grenadella, kalala, maracayú, maracujá, maracujá azedo, maracujá-comum, maracujá-de-comer, maracujá-de-ponche, maracujá-do-mato, maracujá-doce, maracujá-mirim, maracujá-peroba, maracujá-preto, maracujá-redondo, maracuya, pasiflora, passiflora, passiflorae acetum folium, passiflore, passion flower, passion fruit, passion fruit|wel dodam, passionsblume, passionsfrukt, purple granadilla, purple passionflower.

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil, Alagoas, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Distrito Federal, Tocantins, Argentina, Corrientes, Misiones, Paraguay,

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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 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 tarminianabanana passionfruit, banana pokaClimber10.0 10-12 FMHSNM400
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.

 

Expert comment

Author

Sims.f.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

joohn lepcha   Tue Jun 22 11:20:49 2004

I liked it becouse I myself is passion fruit grower from india

Spidra Webster   Tue Oct 9 2007

An edibility rating of 2?? This is one of the most edible passiflora fruits. It's grown commercially for its juice.

   Jul 2 2017 12:00AM

A friend who grew up in Mizoram (Northeast India) says that ... "The leaves are cooked with a little bit of water, baking soda and a bit of rice. You stir and stir till the leaves get all soft and the rice is cooked through and "bursts" up. So ends up a bit like rice porridge with the passion fruit leaves. Tastes a little bitter. Probably acquired taste. But I love it :). My dad used to say it cleans your blood!"

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