Sweet Grenadilla, Passion Flower
Passiflora ligularis
Family: Passifloraceae
What it is like
Growing about 5-26m long, Passiflora ligularis or commonly known as Sweet Granadilla is a fast-growing climbing vine that is woody at the base. It can be found in western and northern parts of South America. The leaves are heart-shaped and up to 20cm long. The flowers are pale green and large. The sweet, ovoid, and orange-yellow fruits are eaten raw or made into drinks. Plant can be propagated through cuttings or grown from seeds.
Passiflora ligularis 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. 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.
Height (m): 5
Where it is found
Found at elevations from 1,000 - 3,000 metres.
Western and Northern S. America - Peru and Bolivia north through Central America to Mexico.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Central America*, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe,
How it is used
Food
Rating: 5
Fruit - raw or made into drinks. A pleasant, sweet flavour. The orange-yellow fruit contains a soft, translucent, perfumed pulp of a very agreeable taste. Claimed by many to be the best tasting of the passionfruits. The ovoid fruit is about 8cm x 5cm.
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
It is said that this species is unsuitable for cultivation in the lowland tropics. It is usually grown at elevations between 800 - 3,000 metres in the tropics and down to sea level in the subtropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 26°c, but can tolerate 16 - 31°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -1°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 650 - 1,800mm. Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in the dappled shade. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.1 - 7.5. 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. Flowering Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall Mid Fall. Bloom Color: Pale Pink Pale Yellow White/Near White. Spacing: 36-48 in. (90-120 cm).
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. Fresh seed germinates in 10 - 20 days. 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 stored seed 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: 9-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Its other names
Local names
Sweet Grenadilla, Passion Flower, Passionflower, Passionvine, Passion Vine, Granadilla comun, Granaditta, Maracuya, Parchita amarilla, Sweet lilikoi, Yellow passionfruit,
Synonyms
Passiflora serratistipula DC.