Edible passion flowers

RHS Genus Guide

Some passion flowers are grown for their delicious fruits (passion fruit). Passiflora edulis is the most widely grown.
The giant granadilla (P. quadrangularis) rarely sets fruit outside the tropics but is highly ornamental. You'll need to grow both of these plants in a heated greenhouse or conservatory.

Botanical name: Passiflora

Common name: Passion flower

RHS / Wilf Halliday

Appearance

Passiflora edulis has white flowers followed by egg-shaped, yellow or purple fruits. The fragrant flowers of P. quadrangularis have deep burgundy-coloured petals with very prominent, wavy-ended filaments extending outwards from the open flower.

Preferences

Grow these passion flowers in large containers filled with a loam-based potting compost with added drainage and water them well in spring and summer. For reliable fruiting, they need consistent warmth and good light.

Dislikes

Direct sunlight under glass in summer can scorch growth, so plants need lightly shading in hot weather. Low temperatures in winter are not tolerated. Both of these species are tropical plants and dislike a minimum winter temperature below 15°C (59°F).

Did you know?

To ensure fruit set, use a soft paintbrush to transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigma when the flowers open. For the sweetest flavour, the skins of the fruits should be allowed to wrinkle before they are eaten.

RHS Growing Guide