Sweet granadilla
Passiflora ligularis

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A vigorous climbing vine. It grows 26 m long. It is woody at the base. The fruit is larger, yellow skinned and sweeter with larger seeds than the more common purple passionfruit. Leaves are entire, heart shaped and up to 20 cm long. Flowers are pale green. They are large. They can be 8-10 cm across. The fruit have a purple tinge and turn orange when ripe. The pulp is white or translucent and sweet. The fruit are 6-7.5 cm long.

There are about 400 Passiflora species. Fruit are high in folates 64μg/100.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It suits the tropical highlands. They grow between 1300 and 2400 m altitude in the tropics. It needs rich soil with good drainage. It cannot tolerate frost. It does not do well in very hot places. In the Andes it grows between 800-3,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), USA, Venezuela, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They can be eaten fresh or used in drinks.

In Papua New Guinea, it is not very often seen in the highlands but it is being more widely planted. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

They can be grown from cuttings. Plants need a fence or trellis to grow on. They can also be grown from fresh seed.

Fruit production is seasonal. Vines bear in 1-2 years. In southern India plants flower and fruit December to May.

Its other names

Local names

Carrendil, Granada china, Granadilla comun, Granaditta, Maracuya, Parchita amarilla, Sweet lilikoi, Yellow passionfruit

Synonyms

Passiflora loweii;