About
Passiflora quadrangularis, the giant granadilla, is a vigorous, evergreen climber to 15 m with angled stems, broadly ovate leaves and nodding, aromatic, light-red flowers with large, purple and white coronal filaments. Fruits to 25 cm long are yellow with edible pulp. One of the most dramatic of all passion flowers for a heated greenhouse or tropical garden.
About the genus
Passiflora, the passion flowers, are mostly tender, tendril-climbing shrubs with simple or palmately-lobed, generally evergreen leaves and showy flowers of distinctive structure with colourful coronal filaments, followed by ornamental fruits, some edible. Grown in warm, sheltered gardens and heated glasshouses.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClimbing
FoliageEvergreen
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Native toTropical America
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass grow in a container in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun. Water freely when in growth and keep just moist in winter with a minimum temperature of 13°C. May be grown outdoors in frost-free areas in most fertile, moist but well-drained soils and overwintered indoors, see passion flower cultivation
PruningPruning group 11
PropagationPropagate by seed, semi-hardwood cuttings 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 honey fungus (rarely) and a virus