Plants: Passiflora mollissima - Banana Passion Flower

Banana Passion Fruit (Passiflora mollissima). A yellow, oval shaped passion fruit with bright yellow skin and orange pulp. Pulp is edible and very tasty. Often used in juice making.

Uses:

Eaten fresh or as flavoring for drinks. Commonly used in parts of South America to flavor ice creams, drinks, and cocktails.

Plant Cultivation

Generally subtropical to tropical. Extremely fast growing vine in where temperatures stay above 28F. Vines usually produce by the second year and can yield up to 300 fruits a vine when in full production. Beautiful red-pink flowers are borne at the ends of a long stalk. Flowers may attract hummingbirds. Fruits can ripen year round.

Propagation:

Almost always grown from seeds, but can be propagated by cuttings. Bottom heating the seeds at 70-80F can result in germination at 1-2 weeks, at lower temperatures seeds can take up to 10 weeks to germinate.

Origin and Distribution:

Found wild throughout Andean valleys in Peru, Argentina, Venezuela and Columbia. Grown commercially in South America, India, and New Zealand.

In cooler regions the Banana Passion Fruit makes an excellent Patio Plant, outside during the summer and indoors in the winter!

Publisher: Hirts Gardens