Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Passion fruit.
Passiflora edulis
Pronounced pa-shun froo-t
Also known as Passion Fruit, Passionfruit, Purple granadilla, Purple passionfruit, Black passion fruit, Purple granadilla, common passionfruit
Passion fruit is a vigorous, twining vine known for its delicious, aromatic fruit. It's a tropical plant that can be grown in warmer climates or as an annual in cooler regions. The flowers are truly spectacular, adding ornamental value before the fruit ripens.
At a glance
- Care level
- Moderate
- Plant type
- Vine
- Light
- Full sun
- Indoor light
- direct
- Water
- Every 3 to 7 days
- Mature size
- Vine can reach 15-20 feet or more
- Growth rate
- fast
- Hardiness
- USDA 10 to 12
- Bloom time
- Late spring to fall
Care
Passion fruit needs a sturdy support structure to climb on and regular pruning to manage its vigorous growth. Watch for signs of pests like aphids or spider mites, and ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.
- Watering
- Keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged, especially when fruiting.
- Feeding
- Feed regularly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer.
- Pruning
- Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood and encourage fruiting wood.
- Repotting
- Repot when rootbound, typically every 1-2 years.
- Soil
- Well-draining, fertile loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.0
- Temperature
- 10 to 30°C
- Humidity
- 50 to 70%
- Drought tolerance
- moderate
- Lifespan
- Perennial in warm climates, often grown as an annual elsewhere.
- Fragrance
- light
- Deer and rabbits
- low
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Plant dries out much faster than usual.
- Visible salt or mineral buildup on the soil surface.
- Stunted growth despite adequate care.
Safety
- People
- The leaves and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides and can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
- Children
- Small children could potentially ingest unripe fruit or leaves, which may cause gastrointestinal upset or more severe symptoms due to cyanogenic glycosides.
- Contact allergens
- Some individuals may experience skin irritation from handling the sap or foliage.
- Airborne allergens
- Pollen can be a respiratory irritant for sensitive individuals, especially when the plant is flowering heavily.
- Edibility
- While the fruit is edible, ensure it is fully ripe and properly identified to avoid confusion with toxic look-alikes.
How to identify it
- Tender, twining vine
- Deeply lobed, glossy leaves
- Intricate, exotic flowers
- Edible, egg-shaped fruit
- Fast-growing habit
- Height
- 4.5 to 6m
- Leaves
- green, evergreen
- Flowers
- purple, white, pink, 5 to 7cm
- Fruit
- purple, yellow, Summer to fall
Common problems
- Aphids — Small, pear-shaped insects that feed on plant sap, causing distorted growth and yellowing leaves.
- Spider Mites — Tiny arachnids that cause stippling on leaves and fine webbing, thriving in hot, dry conditions.
- Leaf Spot Diseases — Fungal or bacterial infections causing spots on leaves, which can lead to defoliation if severe.
- Root Rot — Caused by overwatering and poor drainage, leading to yellowing leaves, wilting, and eventual plant death.
Growing it
- Propagation
- cuttings, seed
- When to plant
- spring
- Overwintering
- In frost-free areas, it can survive outdoors year-round. In colder climates, bring potted plants indoors before the first frost, providing plenty of light and reducing watering. Established plants in the ground may die back to the roots and resprout in spring if mulched well.
- In containers
- Can be grown in containers, but needs a large pot (at least 15-20 gallons) and sturdy support for climbing.
Seed
- Collect seeds from ripe fruit and clean them thoroughly.
- Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours to aid germination.
- Sow seeds in a well-draining seed-starting mix, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Keep the soil consistently moist and warm (70-80°F).
- Germination can be slow and erratic, taking anywhere from 3 weeks to several months.
Cuttings
- Take 4-6 inch cuttings from healthy, non-flowering stems in spring or early summer.
- Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
- Insert the cuttings into a moist, well-draining potting mix.
- Keep the cuttings in a warm, humid environment with bright, indirect light.
- Roots typically form within 4-6 weeks.
Plant passionflower with nitrogen-fixing plants and flowers that attract beneficial insects to support its growth and pest control.
Grows well with
- Nasturtium — Nasturtiums can act as a trap crop for aphids, drawing them away from the passionflower.
- Marigold — Marigolds are thought to deter nematodes in the soil and can add beneficial companion planting dynamics.
- Beans — Beans can fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting the nutrient needs of the passionflower vine.
Keep away from
- Squash — Vigorous vining plants like squash can compete heavily for space and resources, potentially overwhelming the passionflower.
- Cucumbers — Similar to squash, cucumbers are fast-growing vines that can compete for light, water, and nutrients.
Similar species
- Maypop — Also edible and native to North America, but typically hardier and with a different flower appearance.
- Blue Passionflower — A common ornamental passionflower with beautiful blue-tinged flowers, but its fruit is not typically considered as palatable or widely consumed.
Science
- Family
- Passifloraceae
- Genus
- Passiflora
- Order
- Malpighiales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina)
- Conservation
- Not of conservation concern.
As a vigorous vine, it uses its tendrils to climb trees and shrubs, seeking sunlight in forest clearings or edges.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source, larval host plant for Gulf Fritillary butterflies
- Pollinators
- bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds
- Uses
- ornamental, fruit production, culinary
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 8/9
- Temperature
- 7/9
- Moisture
- 6/9
- Nutrients
- 6/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- How much sun does Passiflora edulis need?
- It thrives in full sun, needing at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for best growth and fruit production.
- How often should I water passionflower?
- Water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during dry periods.
- Does passionflower need support to climb?
- Yes, it's a vine and needs a trellis, fence, or other structure to climb on.
- When does Passiflora edulis fruit?
- Fruiting typically occurs from late spring through fall, depending on the climate and variety.
- Can I grow passionflower indoors?
- Yes, it can be grown indoors in a sunny window, but may require hand-pollination for fruit.
Where the name comes from
The genus name Passiflora was given by European explorers who saw symbolic representations of the Passion of Christ in the flower's structure. 'Edulis' is Latin for 'edible', referring to its fruit.
Good to know
- The name 'Passiflora' comes from Latin, meaning 'passion flower'.
- It's a vigorous climber, capable of growing many feet in a single season.
- The fruit is commonly known as passion fruit.
- It's native to South America, primarily Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
Is your passion fruit looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.