About
Vigorous evergreen climber about 4m tall, with slender stems and rounded 3-5 lobed dark green leaves to 10cm long, the central lobe the longest. From summer to autumn saucer or star-shaped, rich mauve flowers 11cm across, with darker spreading coronas and ovoid, bright orange fruit 5cm long are produced. 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 typeLoam
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse
HabitClimbing
FoliageEvergreen, Semi evergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesSub-tropical
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 in a conservatory or frost free greenhouse in a container of peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light, with shade from hot sun. See passion flower cultivation
PruningPruning group 11 or pruning group 12 if necessary, in early spring
PropagationPropagate by seed, semi-hardwood cuttings or by layering in spring or autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, mealybugs and scale insects under glass
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a virus