Banana Passionfruit
Passiflora antioquiensis
Family: Passifloraceae
What it is like
Passiflora antioquiensis or commonly known as Red Banana Passionflower is an ornamental plant commonly grown in highland regions in western part of South America. It is a climbing shrub with shoots growing up to 5m tall. It has an edible, yellow, and ellipsoidal fruit with a sweet flavor which can be eaten raw or made into drinks. Young leaves are narrow and older leaves consist of three leaflets and are more broad. The flowers are red and hanging.
Passiflora antioquiensis is a 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. 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 can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 5
Where it is found
Found at elevations of 2,000 - 3,000 metres.
Western S. America - Colombia.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Andes, Asia, Australia, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, South America (native).
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Fruit - raw or used for making drinks. A sweet flavour. The best flavoured passion fruit in the genus. The yellow, ellipsoid fruits have an aromatic pulp. A vanilla-like flavour. The fruit is 4 - 5cm long.
Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
Sweetener: includes sugar substitutes.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 0
Other Uses None known
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
A plant of higher elevations in the moister tropics. It can also be grown successfully at lower elevations in the tropics and subtropics. Tolerant of occasional slight frosts. Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in dappled shade. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility. Plants require a temperature no lower than around 16°c when they are flowering in order to ensure fruit set. Plants produce tendrils and climb by attaching these to other plants. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required to rejuvenate the plant. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagating it: 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. 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). Even so, it can take 12 months for the stored seeds to germinate. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 - 24°c. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough. Cuttings of young shoots, taken at the nodes. The cuttings root best in a neutral to slightly acid compost, but 100% sharp sand also produces good results. Cuttings of fully mature wood taken at a node. They can take 3 months, but there is usually a high percentage. Layering. Very easy. Air layering.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Climber
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Banana Passionfruit
Synonyms
Passiflora antioquiensis var. trisecta H. Karst. Passiflora vanvolxemii (Hook.) Triana & Planch. Tac