Yellow granadilla
Passiflora laurifolia

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A perennial climbing vine. It can be up to 10 m long. Leaves do not have lobes and stems are round. Leaves are rounded (10 cm x 5 cm), hairless and rough. Flowers are large (6 cm across) and have a pleasant smell. Fruit are oblong and taper at both ends. They are about 8 cm x 5 cm smooth and yellow or orange when ripe. They have tough yellow skins and paler orange pulp. The fruit are edible.

There are about 400 Passiflora species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the Amazon in Brazil. It grows in lowland areas in the tropics. It does best in slightly drier, humid climates. It is damaged by frost. It can grow on a variety of soils. It suits plant hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Barbados, Brazil (country/location of origin), Caribbean, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Marquesas, Martinique, Montserrat, Myanmar, Niue, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Puerto Rico, Samoa, SE Asia, South America, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Fruit are eaten raw. They are also used in drinks. CAUTION The leaves are poisonous.

Not commonly seen in Papua New Guinea. Fruit are sold in markets in many countries. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are mostly grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings. Bottom heating the seeds at 20-26°C can result in germination at 1-2 weeks, at lower temperatures seeds can take up to 10 weeks to germinate.

Its other names

Local names

Bell apple, Buah belebar, Buah belewar, Buah selaseh, Buah susu, Golden apple, Guoi tay, Jamaican honeysuckle, Kratok-rok-farang, Maracuja-laranja, Maracuja piroba, Markusa leutik, Nweni-natpan, Paramarkoesa, Parcha, Pomme liane, Sao warot, Simitu, Sweet cup, Vinegar pear, Water lemon

Synonyms

Passiflora trinifolia Juss.; Passiflora laurifolia var. trinifolia (Juss.) Bois.; Passiflora obongifolia Dulle;