Passiflora pinnatistipula

Passiflora pinnatistipula

Family: Passifloraceae

It is a vigorous, climbing plant producing rather stout stems that can be several metres long from a perennial rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground or clamber into nearby vegetation, supporting themselves by means of tendrils. Ripe fruits are eaten raw or used for making drinks, ice-cream or marmalades. The pulp is sweet, but rather insipid. The fragrant, yellow pulp has an agreeable, sweet-acid flavour.

Sowing instructions: Stored seed should be soaked for 24 hours in warm water and germination time can be reduced if the seed is then mixed with the juice of a fresh passion fruit (of any species). Even so, it can take 12 months for stored seed to germinate. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 – 24°c. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough.

Locality: Ex Hort. Harvest: November 2024