1 named cultivar

‘Frederick’Frederick Passion Fruit

vine

Passion Fruit

The Story

Plant Bio

Passiflora edulis, the purple granadilla or passion fruit, is an evergreen tendril climber from Brazil, reaching ten to fifteen feet with a spread of three to five. Deeply three-lobed glossy leaves clothe the wiry stems, and the flowers are elaborate: white with a dense crown of purple-based filaments. Rounded purple fruit follows in warm regions.

The fruit is edible only when fully ripe and wrinkled; unripe fruit and the leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides, so picking early is a genuine mistake rather than a matter of flavour. The vine is also invasive in Hawaii and parts of the warm south, where birds spread the seed, so a container is the safer choice there.

Uses & Benefits:

Elaborate white and purple filamented flowers over glossy evergreen three-lobed foliage.

A fast fruiting climber that covers a warm wall or pergola within a season or two.

Flowers draw butterflies, and the genus hosts fritillary caterpillars where those species occur.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Vine

Height

120 inches

Width

48 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Brazil

Toxicity

Ripe fruit edible; unripe fruit and foliage are toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in full sun against a support.
Choose fertile, moist, free-draining soil.
Provide wires or trellis for the tendrils to grip.
Water regularly through the growing season.
Prune in early spring to control size and renew growth.
Harvest fruit only when fully coloured and wrinkling.

Pro Tip

Wait for the skin to wrinkle before picking; a smooth, fully coloured fruit is still unripe and unripe fruit is not safe to eat.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it full sun and a strong support ☀️
Water regularly through growth 💧
Prune in early spring to renew the vine ✂️
Pick fruit only when wrinkled and fully ripe 🍇

Don't

Eat unripe fruit or any part of the foliage ❌
Plant it in open ground in Hawaii or the warm south ❌
Let it climb into trees where it cannot be pruned ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Harvest
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Fruiting climber on a warm wall or pergolaLarge container plant with a support frameButterfly planting in frost-free gardens

Companion Plants

Bougainvillea Lantana Citrus PlumbagoSociety Garlic

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Passion Fruit questions

What zones can Passion Fruit grow in?

Passion Fruit is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Passion Fruit deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Passion Fruit, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Passion Fruit bloom?

Passion Fruit typically blooms in seasonal, mainly summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Passion Fruit need full sun?

Passion Fruit does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.