Passiflora edulis

Passifloraceae

Black Passionfruit, Passionfruit

The plant is a vigorous climber, with attractive flowers, commonly producing heavier fruit crops in the first few years. Fruit is commonly hard black, round and contains a tasty pulpy flesh with lots of seeds. Some cultivars have variations in skin colour and other characteristics.

Uses

Passionfruit is eaten fresh, used for flavour in drinks and cooking. Pulp or whole fruits can be frozen.

Culture

In cooler climates passionfruit should be grown on a trellis next to a brick wall facing the midday or afternoon sun.

All prefer fertile, well drained loamy soil, but will adapt to most soil types provided they are never waterlogged. Soil should never be too acid (ie. If pH is below 5.5 add lime). Constant moisture is needed particularly during flowering and fruit development. Mulching and regular watering is beneficial. 

 

Propagation

Seed or grafting (for the better cultivars)

Cultivars

The Golden Passionfruit (P. edulus var. flavicarpa) has a yellow skin, a more orange flesh and may produce lighter crops. It can be more frost tender, vut better adapted to warmer and wetter conditions. 

Plant Health

Virus problems are difficult to avoid, and once infected (with mosaic virus), the fruit declines in quality, developing increasingly thicker skins with less fuit pulp inside. Passionfruit are commonly replanted every 4 to 6 years, as plants decline; in order to control the effects of virus infections.

More info

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