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Passiflora tripartita mollissima - (Kunth) Holm-Niels. & P.M.Jorg.

Common Name Banana Passionfruit
Family Passifloraceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found at elevations between 2,000 - 3,200 metres[262 ].
Range Western S. America - Andes.
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 tripartita mollissima Banana Passionfruit


Dick Culbert flickr.com
Passiflora tripartita mollissima Banana Passionfruit
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Passiflora tripartita mollissima is an evergreen Climber growing to 5 m (16ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Murucuja mollissima Spreng. Passiflora mollissima (Kunth) L.H.Bailey. Tacsonia mollissima Kunth

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 70mm long and 35mm wide[200 ]. The fruits of this species are a pale yellow colour, the pulp is more aromatic and tart and has a somewhat superior flavour to the flesh of the deep yellow to orange fruits of Passiflora tarminiana[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

Prefers a cooler, less humid atmosphere than most other members of the genus, growing well at moderate elevations, generally above 1,000 metres in the tropics, and at lower elevations in the subtropics and warm temperate zones[262 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 18°c, but can tolerate 8 - 30°c[418 ]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -2°c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 1,700mm, but tolerates 700 - 2,300mm[418 ]. 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 ]. Plants have escaped from cultivation in several areas of the world[262 ], and the plant has been declared a noxious weed in America. Many of these reports refer to the related, but more vigorous Passiflora tarminiana[968 ]. The plant starts fruiting after about 2 years from seed[418 ]. Well managed plants can produce 300 - 400 fruits per year, equivalent to 30 - 47 tonnes per hectare[418 ].. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required to rejuvenate the plant[202 ]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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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 - 24°c[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

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

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

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. Many of these reports refer to the related, but more vigorous Passiflora tarminiana[968 ].

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 tarminianabanana passionfruit, banana pokaClimber10.0 10-12 FMHSNM400
Passiflora tetrandra Climber9.0 -  LMHSNM102
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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Author

(Kunth) Holm-Niels. & P.M.Jorg.

Botanical References

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.

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