About
This vigorous climber to 4m high, with lobed, glossy dark green leaves. Produces aromatic flowers with purple petals and purple and white corona filaments from summer to autumn, followed by orange-yellow fruit. The pulp in the fruits only can be eaten when they are fully ripe and yellow-orange. Unripe fruit is toxic.
About the genus
Passiflora are mostly tender tendril-climbing shrubs, with simple or palmately-lobed, generally evergreen leaves and showy flowers of distinctive structure with often colourful coronal filaments, followed by conspicuous fruits, edible in some species
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
FragranceFlower
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass in a greenhouse border or large container, in peat-free, loam-based potting compost, in full light with shade from hot sun. In frost free areas, grow outdoors in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, with shelter from cold, drying winds
PruningPruning group 11 or 12, if necessary, in early spring
PropagationPropagate by seed, by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, or by layering in spring or autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to virus diseases, including cucumber mosaic virus