Passion fruit Passiflora edulis
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Passifloraceae family. It grows 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall and 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 2 °C (36 °F). Space plants about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart.
Plan Passion fruit in your garden →
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Passion fruit at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Passifloraceae |
| Mature height | 3–6 m (10–20 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About 2 °C (36 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 13–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: ripe fruit pulp |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Is Passion fruit toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: unripe fruit, leaves
Unripe fruit and leaves contain cyanogenic compounds; eat only ripe pulp.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Passion fruit
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Passion fruit
- How far apart should I plant Passion fruit?
- About 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft).
- Does Passion fruit need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Passion fruit need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Passion fruit?
- It tolerates about 2 °C (36 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Passion fruit flower?
- From about May for 13–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Passion fruit poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. Unripe fruit and leaves contain cyanogenic compounds; eat only ripe pulp.
- What grows well with Passion fruit?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Passion fruit. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Needs a sturdy trellis; large-bee pollination improves fruit set.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Blue passion flower Passiflora caerulea
- Sweet granadilla Passiflora ligularis
- Banana passionfruit (curuba) Passiflora tripartita
- Giant granadilla (badea) Passiflora quadrangularis
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Raspberry Rubus idaeus