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garden
Passion fruit
Passiflora incarnata
EdibleMedicinalToxic — Use CautionDrought TolerantNative to N. America
Edible Partsfruits
Overview
A tropical vine that produces one of the most intensely aromatic and flavorful fruits in the world, with a complex sweet-tart taste and heady tropical perfume. The wrinkled, unpretentious exterior gives no hint of the extraordinary pulp inside, which is used to flavor everything from cocktails to cheesecakes. The flowers are among the most spectacular and intricate in the plant kingdom.
Growing Conditions
LightFull Sun
MoistureModerate
Hardiness Zones6 — 10
Height5m
Spread3m
Growth HabitVine
LifespanPerennial
Bloom ColorPurple
Pollinator Valuehigh
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Soil pH5.5 — 6.5
Soil TypeRich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Start Indoors | Feb — Mar | Start indoors; grow as annual or greenhouse plant north of zone 9 |
| Cold (1-2) | Transplant | Jun — Jun | Transplant outdoors as annual; will not survive frost |
| Cool (3-4) | Start Indoors | Jan — Feb | Start indoors; treat as annual; needs trellis |
| Cool (3-4) | Transplant | May — Jun | Transplant after all frost; annual in zones 3-6 |
| Moderate (5-7) | Transplant | Apr — May | Plant in spring; maypop (P. incarnata) hardy to zone 6 |
| Moderate (5-7) | Harvest | Aug — Oct | Maypop: harvest when fruit drops or skin wrinkles; wait for full color |
| Moderate (5-7) | Prune | Mar — Apr | Prune back dead growth in early spring; fruits on new growth |
| Warm (8-9) | Transplant | Mar — Apr | Plant in spring; perennial in zones 8-9 with mulch |
| Warm (8-9) | Harvest | Jul — Oct | Harvest when fruit drops from vine; wrinkled skin means ripe |
| Warm (8-9) | Prune | Feb — Mar | Prune in late winter; remove dead and crossing vines |
| Hot (10+) | Transplant | Feb — Mar | Plant in spring; evergreen perennial in zone 10+ |
| Hot (10+) | Harvest | Jun — Nov | Harvest fallen fruit; two flushes per year in ideal conditions |
| Hot (10+) | Prune | Jan — Feb | Light pruning to control size |
Uses
Culinary
- Pulp used in juices, cocktails, and mousse
- Drizzled over yogurt, ice cream, and pavlova
- Concentrated into syrup and curd for baking
Medicinal
- Rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene
- Leaf and flower tea traditionally used as a mild sedative
- Contains piceatannol, studied for metabolic health
Other Uses
- Spectacularly ornate flowers for ornamental trellises
- Vigorous vine for privacy screens in tropical climates
Safety Notes
Unripe fruit contains cyanogenic glycosides; only eat ripe fruit. Leaves used medicinally but may interact with sedatives.
