Passiflora foetida
L.
Passifloraceae
Dysosmia foetida M.Roem.
Passiflora hastata Bertol.
Passiflora hibiscifolia Lam.
Passiflora hirsuta Lodd.
Passiflora hispida DC.
Passiflora variegata Mill.
Passiflora vesicaria L.
Tripsilina foetida (L.)Raf.
Common Name: Goat-Scented Passionflower
Flower
Photograph by: Marco Schmidt
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5
Flower
Photograph by: Marco Schmidt
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5
Fruiting plant, growing along a fence
Photograph by: Yosri
GNU Free Documentation License
Ripening fruits
Photograph by: Vmenkov
GNU Free Documentation License
General Information
Passiflora foetida is an ill-scented, climbing herbaceous perennial plant growing from a woody rootstock and producing annual to perennial, somewhat sticky stems around 0.7 - 3 metres long, occasionally to 5 metres[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
,
422- Title
- Fruits of the Guianan Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
- Publisher
- Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 90-9000988-4
- Description
- Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
,
1673- Title
- Passifloraceae
- Publication
- Flora Mesoamericana, Volume 3 (2), Passifloraceae, pp 1 - 135
- Author
- MacDougal J.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. These stems scramble over the ground, or clamber into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of coiling tendrils.
The fruit is gathered from the wild and consumed locally, but is not greatly valued because of its small size[
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. However, the plant is cultivated for its fruit in some tropical areas of America, Africa and Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam)[
]. It is also grown as an ornamental[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
This species is considered to be a weed in many parts of the tropics[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
Known Hazards
The unripe fruits contain toxic cyanogenic glucosides and alkaloids, although any reports of toxicity to grazing livestock appear to be minimal[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
,
,
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
1673- Title
- Passifloraceae
- Publication
- Flora Mesoamericana, Volume 3 (2), Passifloraceae, pp 1 - 135
- Author
- MacDougal J.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
Warm temperate and tropical S. America from Chile and Argentina, north through the Caribbean and C. America to Arizona, Texas and the Bahamas
Habitat
Hedgerows, thickets and waste ground at low elevations[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
,
426- Title
- Flowering Plants of Jamaica
- Publication
-
- Author
- Adams. C.D.
- Publisher
- University of the West Indies; Jamaica.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
]. Naturalised in the south Pacific where it is common along roadsides, forest margins, agricultural fields and coastal woodlands from sea-level to 200 metres[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
Properties
Weed Potential | Yes |
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Perennial Climber |
Height | 2.50 m |
Pollinators | Bees, Self |
Self-fertile | Yes |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Passiflora foetida is found from the warm temperate zone to the tropics of North and South America. Plants are not very tolerant of frost, and can be killed by temperatures falling to around 3°c. They require a temperature no lower than around 16°c when they are flowering in order to ensure fruit set[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in dappled shade[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
]. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
]. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
This species is considered to be a weed in many parts of the tropics[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
Dormant seeds can remain viable for many years in the soil[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
The plant can flower and produce fruit all year round[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on any modern research into the plants.
].
An extremely variable and widespread plant, it has a very long list of synonyms[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required to rejuvenate the plant[
202- Title
- Climbers and Wall Shrubs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Davis. B.
- Publisher
- Viking.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-670-82929-3
- Description
- Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.
]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Fully ripe fruit - eaten raw and also used to make drinks etc[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. The pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten. Sweet and juicy[
,
416- Title
- Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
- Publisher
- Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 85-867174-24-0
- Description
- A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
]. Do not eat the under-ripe fruit since it can be toxic[
]. The globose yellow to bright red fruit is about 25mm in diameter[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Young leaves - cooked[
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
]. Used as an ingredient in soups[
617- Title
- Traditional Vegetables in Benin
- Publication
-
- Author
- Achigan-Dako E. Et al
- Publisher
- Darwin Initiative; International Foundation for Science
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Issued as a PDF on the Internet, it contains basic information on over 250 species of plants used for food in Benin.
].
Medicinal
The fresh, whole plant is boiled and the liquid used as a children's anthelmintic, for intestinal nematodes and flatworms[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. A decoction of the dried plant is drunk to treat colds and chest coughs[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. It is also used in the treatment of tuberculosis, worms, and for coughs and colds [
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. Fluid, pressed from the leaves and stem, is used to improve fertility in women[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
The root is antispasmodic[
262- Title
- Passion Flowers
- Publication
-
- Author
- Vanderplank. J.
- Publisher
- Cassell. London.
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
- 0-304-34076-6
- Description
- An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
].
The whole plant is considered to have sedative properties and is used in the treatment of neurasthenia, insomnia, nightmares and anxiety. It is also indicated for treating hypertension in the form of a decoction, fluid extract or syrup[
283- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Vietnam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 92 9061 101 4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.
].
The leaves, combined with those of Erythrina variegata, are mashed and their juice extracted then drunk in order to induce sleep or to treat sleeping disorders[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on any modern research into the plants.
].
The leaves are crushed in water and the solution drunk as an antidote to the bite of the Papuan Black Snake[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on any modern research into the plants.
].
An infusion of the leaves is used for healing wounds[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. Freshed young leaves are mashed and then rubbed on to the wound of a snake bite[
481- Title
- Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- World Health Organisation
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-92-9061-249-0
- Description
- Traditional medicinal uses of 126 species from Papua New Guinea, including information on any modern research into the plants.
].
The leaf contains substances that have possible antimicrobial activity[
348- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
- Publication
-
- Author
- DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
- Website
- http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Museum
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is used as a ground cover and as a hedge[
]. It is said to be effective in smothering weeds[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. It is seldom used at the present because it can be difficult to control and also rapidly forms a soil seed bank[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
]. Its ability to form a dense mat of growth, however, can make it useful for protecting soil from erosion or for stabilizing dunes[
1093- Title
- Invasive Species Compendium
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.cabi.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
Other Uses
Substances in the leaves deter feeding insects[
311- Title
- Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- WHO Regional Publications, Manilla.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 92-9061-118-9
- Description
- Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given.
].
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[
88- Title
- The Garden. Volume 112.
- Publication
-
- Author
- RHS.
- Publisher
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Snippets of information from the magazine of the RHS. In particular, there are articles on plants that are resistant to honey fungus, oriental vegetables, Cimicifuga spp, Passiflora species and Cucurbits.
]. 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[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Leaf bud cuttings in spring.
Cuttings of fully mature wood in early summer. Takes 3 months. High percentage[
3- Title
- Growing Unusual Fruit.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Simmons. A. E.
- Publisher
- David & Charles; Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-7153-5531-7
- Description
- A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.
].