Common Name: Passion Fruit

General Information

Passiflora edulis is a vigorous, stout-stemmed, evergreen climbing shrub, producing stems from 2 - 9 metres or more long that scramble over the ground or clamber into other plants for support, attaching themselves by means of coiling tendrils[, ].
A very popular edible fruit, this is the most commonly cultivated of all the passion fruits[]. It is grown in both tropical and subtropical regions and is also widely traded[, ]. The fruit has a thick, tough skin, which means it can be easily exported worldwide and still remain in good condition.
Passiflora edulis has escaped from cultivation and, partly because it is strongly self-compatible, has become naturalised in many areas from the warm temperate zone to the tropics - it has become become invasive in some countries, including New Zealand, Australia and South Africa[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina

Habitat

Edges of rain forests[]. Escaped and naturalized in premontane to montane humid thickets and secondary forest growth in Mesoamerica[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	9.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Passiflora edulis is native to subtropical regions of S. America and is also cultivated at higher elevations in more tropical areas[]. It can be grown between sea level and 900 metres in the subtropics, and from 900 - 2,000 metres or even higher in the tropics[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 18 - 34°c[]. When dormant, the mature plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth cannot tolerate any frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 600 - 2,500mm[]. Top growth is not very frost tolerant, though plants can be grown outdoors in the warmest areas of the temperate zone if the soil is prevented from freezing[]. Although the plants are cut down to the ground by frost, the roots will usually survuve and the plants can regenerate from the base in the spring[]. There is also the possibility of growing plants on rootstocks of Passiflora caerulea which might make them hardier[]. The fruit can be freely produced in warm temperate regions in hot summers[].
Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in dappled shade[]. Requires a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season, otherwise it is not fussy[, ]. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility[]. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 8, tolerating 5.5 - 8.5[]. Prefers a position sheltered from cold winds[].
Passiflora edulis is widely cultivated for its edible fruit from the warm temperate zone to higher elevations in the tropics. There are two distinct forms of this species:-
Passiflora edulis edulis is the type species and is the form treated in this entry. It has purple fruits and occurs in cooler regions and at higher elevations in the tropics.
Passiflora edulis flavicarpa has yellow fruits and is larger in all its parts, including the fruit. It grows successfully in the tropical lowlands. See separate entry for more information on this form[].
There are some named varieties of each form and also commercial cultivars developed by hybridizing the two forms[, , , , ].
A fast-growing plant, seedlings can commence fruiting within 12 - 24 months from germination, whilst cuttings can start fruiting in the same year[].
Plants have a commercially economic lifespan of 3 - 6 years[].
Two crops a year are normally produced[].
Average annual yield of fruit may be about 8 - 15 tonnes per hectare, but yields up to 50 tonnes have been reported from Kenya[].
A shallow-rooted plant[].
Flowers shed their pollen before the pistils are receptive and so plants need another cultivar flowering at a slightly different time in order to fertilize the flowers[]. The species is self-fertile, though some of its forms, such as Flavicarpa, require cross-pollination[, ].
Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required in order to rejuvenate the plant[]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. An agreeable cooling taste[, , , ], somewhat like an orange with a mixture of acid[]. The ripe aromatic fruit is allowed to wrinkle and develop its sweetness, it is then eaten raw, juiced, made into a syrup or used in sauces, cakes, ice creams, sherbets etc[, , ]. A rich source of vitamin C[]. The greenish brown to purple or purplish black, widely ellipsoid fruit is about 40 - 55mm in diameter[, ].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[, ].

Leaves - cooked[]. Occasionally used as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

The pulp of the fruit is stimulant and tonic[].

The leaves are deobstruent, diuretic and sedative[]. They are used in the treatment of insomnia and bronchopulmonary inflammations[].
The leaves are applied as a poultice to treat haemorrhoids[].

The roots, leaves and seed are anthelmintic[].

The leaves and roots of some, if not all, members of this genus contain a substance called 'passiflorina' which has similaritiesr to morphine and is an effective tranquilizer[]. We have no specific information for this species but many species are used in herbal infusions to calm the nerves and help bring about a restful sleep[].
The leaves of many species are also considered to be anthelmintic, antihysteric and diaphoretic. They are used in Brazil to combat intermittent fevers, cutaneous inflammations, and erysipelas[].

Other Uses

The oil extracted from the seed is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emollient and skin conditioner[].
An extract of the flowers , an extract of the fruit and an extract of the seed are all used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as skin conditioners[].
An extract of the fruit peel is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse. If sown in January and grown on fast it can flower and fruit in its first year[]. The seed germinates in 1 - 12 months at 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. It you are intending to grow the plants outdoors, it is probably best to keep them in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Mulch the roots well in late autumn to protect them from the cold.
Cuttings of young shoots, 15cm with a heel, in spring[].
Leaf bud cuttings in spring.
Cuttings of fully mature wood in early summer. Takes 3 months. High percentage[].