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| How to grow Passiflora edulis |
Commonly known as the 'Purple Granadilla', Passiflora edulis is a tender, evergreen, vigorous climber with highly ornamental blooms and edible fruits. Native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina, it was introduced to the gardeners of England in 1810.
It is a shallow rooted, self-clinging species, and perhaps most notable for its extremely showy bowl-shaped, fragrant, purple-white passionflowers. The blooms are approximately 6 cm across and are produced throughout the summer. Each flower has white tepals, and a corona comprising of curling white filaments which are marked by a broad, purple band at the base.
Passiflora edulis is also grown for its edible fruit which are round to oval in shape, and either yellow or dull purple at maturity. They have a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with as many as 250 seeds inside. Each seed being surrounded by an orange sac containing juice.
The plant itself can grow to approximately 3-5 metres tall and 1-2 metres wide, clinging to its support by coiled tendrils. The finely-toothed, three-lobed leaves will grow to between 7-20 cm long. They are deep green and glossy above but dull green below with two small glands on the stalks. The young stems are tinged with red or purple.
Passiflora edulis will perform best when grown in moist, fertile, well-drained, sandy loams in full sun. They are in fact tolerant of positions which experience a certain amount of light shade, but this will reduce the number of blooms.
Despite its subtropical and tropical origins it is possible to grow Passiflora edulis in the mildest regions of Northern Europe, however wherever they are likely to experience freezing conditions they are perhaps best grown as a container plant and brought in under protect before the first frost are forecasted. Provide a humus rich compost, plenty of ventilation, and reduce watering.
It is a shallow rooted, self-clinging species, and perhaps most notable for its extremely showy bowl-shaped, fragrant, purple-white passionflowers. The blooms are approximately 6 cm across and are produced throughout the summer. Each flower has white tepals, and a corona comprising of curling white filaments which are marked by a broad, purple band at the base.
Passiflora edulis is also grown for its edible fruit which are round to oval in shape, and either yellow or dull purple at maturity. They have a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with as many as 250 seeds inside. Each seed being surrounded by an orange sac containing juice.
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| Passiflora edulis fruit |
Passiflora edulis will perform best when grown in moist, fertile, well-drained, sandy loams in full sun. They are in fact tolerant of positions which experience a certain amount of light shade, but this will reduce the number of blooms.
Despite its subtropical and tropical origins it is possible to grow Passiflora edulis in the mildest regions of Northern Europe, however wherever they are likely to experience freezing conditions they are perhaps best grown as a container plant and brought in under protect before the first frost are forecasted. Provide a humus rich compost, plenty of ventilation, and reduce watering.
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