Purple passionfruit
Passiflora edulis

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A vine which continues to grow for several years. The main vine becomes woody. Vines can be 6-7 m long. It climbs by tendrils. The leaves are shaped like the fingers on a hand with three lobes. They are 5-10 cm long. The vine can set flowers at each leaf. The flowers are white and often tinted purple. They are 5 cm across. The fruit are oblong and thickly dotted with purple when ripe. The skin is hard and they have a sweet smell. The flesh is orange. The seed occupy most of the inside with a small amount of flesh. The flesh is edible. The seeds are black. The flowers open in the morning. There are many named cultivated varieties.

There are about 400 Passiflora species. It can become a self sown plant in cool moist areas. Fruit are high in folates 136μg/100.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. They are cultivated up to 2000 m altitude in the tropics. The purple variety grows in the highlands up to 3000 m. It can stand very light frosts. The yellow one grows in the lowlands. Its normal range is 700 to 2300 m. Often fruit set is poor in wet conditions. Wind breaks are important. Vines can tolerate very light frosts. If frosts are likely wrapping the stems near ground level with insulation paper can help protect the plant. Heavy rain at flowering can reduce fruit set through poor pollination. Soils should be fertile, moist and well drained. Plants cannot tolerate water-logging. A pH in the range 5.5-6.5 is best. In Nepal they grow between 1200-1700 m altitude. It grows satisfactorily between 20-30°C. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Niue, Norfolk Island, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay (country/location of origin), Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw. Passionfruit are also used for flavouring in juices, and with other foods. It is used in sherberts, custards, cakes, sauces, pies, fruit soups, candies and ice cream. The seeds are edible. They also yield an edible oil. The tender shoots are boiled and eaten. They are added to meat curry.

It is a commonly cultivated food plant. Plants are common in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The fruit are eaten but are not popular.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - oil, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate in 15-45 days. Seedlings can be grafted. When the end shoots of the mother plant are the same thickness as the seedling stem, shoot tips 8 cm long can be used. The leaves should be removed from the cutting being used in the graft. An even light and high humidity allows these grafted plants to be ready in a few weeks. Plants are put in a hole 30 cm deep and which has had organic matter added. A spacing of 3-4 m apart is suitable. Plants need a trellis to climb over. Often a trellis 2 m high is used. Normally the side shoots are picked off until the vine reaches the trellis height. Then the tip is picked out to promote branching. Normally later pruning is not done. Putting mulch around the plant helps retain moisture and adds nutrients as well as controlling weeds. Hand pollination can improve fruit set. The fruit turns purple, wrinkles then drops off when ripe. Balanced fertiliser to promote healthy growth is important. Deficiencies of magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and boron can occur in some places. Pruning is important to keep vines vigorous.

Plants produce after about 12-18 months and keep producing well for 4 or 5 years. Good production is related to keeping the vine growing well by avoiding low temperatures and lack of water. Plants are pollinated by insects, so it is important to not kill these with insecticides. They can also self pollinate. Fruit mature between 60 and 100 days from pollination.

Its other names

Local names

Aul aanp, Bai xiang guo, Bechawan, Begele, Bejabe, Buah negeri, Buah susu, Butunda, Chumbao trung, Farendal, Gandum-pat, Garandel, Garendal, Giranadela, Granadiglia, Granadilho, Grenadille, Gwate, Ji dan guo, Jumhoorimeyvaa, Koko, Kudamonotokeiso, Latabel, Liliko'i, Linmangkon, Louki, Mabosoboso, Magalendendele, Mak nod, Manthei, Maracuja-roxo, Maracuya, Maraflora, Markisa, Markoesa, Masaflora, Masaplora, Maseche, Matunda, Mkakaa, Mograndela, Mufurangandela, Munchi, Obutunda, Pasionaria, Pin-hme, Purpurgrenadille, Pwompwompw en wai, Qaranidila, Sapthei, Sawarot, Sita phal, Soh-brap, Tang, Thatput, Tikeiso

Synonyms

Passiflora diaden Vell.; Passiflora pallidiflora Bert.; Passiflora gratissima St. Hil.; Passiflora rigidula Jacq.; Passiflora edulis var. verrucifera (Lindl.) Mast.;