The passion fruit, passiflora edulis, is a fruit bearing plant (vine), cultivated commercially for its round, aromatic and taste fruit. There are two types, the dark purple passion fruit and the bright yellow kind, also known as the Golden Passion fruit. The purple is subtropical and favors a frost-free climate. Even so, some cultivars can tolerate temperatures as low as of -3C° without much damage. The yellow passion fruit is near-tropical and much more intolerant of frost.

The purple passion fruit is a native from southern Brazil through to northern Argentina, while the yellow is of unidentified origin. Passion fruit is a vigorous and evergreen climbing vine that needs to have a strong support to grow well. Once the vine is established it can grow 5 to 7 meters per year. However, it is generally short-lived (5 to 10 years). The passion fruit prefers a sunny position and a light to heavy sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. However, the vine can grow in many types of soil.

The leaves of passion fruit are alternate, 3-lobed and finely toothed. They can reach up to 20 cm long, with a deep glossy green on top but dull beneath with a tinge with red or purple. Flowers are single, fragrant, up to 3 inches wide. The purple type is self fertile but the yellow is self sterile. The best pollinators are carpenter bees with best pollination under humid conditions. The round or oval fruits, 6 to 9 cm wide, have a tough smooth and waxy rind ranging in color from dark purple, to light yellow.

Both types of vines are usually grown from seeds. Seeds planted soon after removal will germinate in 15 to 20 days. It can also be propagated from cuttings or layers from matured wood with 3 to 5 nodes. In tropical areas the vines are attacked by a host of pests and diseases. Purple type is more susceptible to nematodes, while the yellow passion fruit is a lot more resistant.

passion fruit, passiflora edulis

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