Passionflower, Native passionfruit
Passiflora herbertiana

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A vigorous climber. The young growth is hairy. The stems are slender and with a few hairs. The leaves are 6-12 cm long by 8 cm wide. They have 3-5 lobes. The leaves are deep green and the tips are pointed. The stalk is 7 cm long. There are 2 dark glands near the tip. The flowers are 7 cm across. They are cream but turn greenish-yellow then pink or orange. They occur singly in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit are 5 cm long by 4 cm wide. They are oval.

There are about 400 Passiflora species.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows in wet sclerophyll forest in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. Well drained acid soils in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates are best. It does best with light shade. A subspecies occurs on Norfolk Island.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Lord Howe Island

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit can be eaten fresh. They are also used for drinks.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed and cuttings.

It is quick growing. Plants last 4-6 years. Fruit ripen 3 months after flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Disemma herbertiana DC.; Murucuja herbertiana (Ker Gawler) Sweet; Passiflora verruculosa Weinm.; and others