Common Name: Passion Flower

General Information

Passiflora actinia is a fairly fast-growing, slender, wiry-stemmed, evergreen climbing shrub producing stems up to 10 metres long[]. These stems scramble over the ground, or clamber into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of coiling tendrils.
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local consumption. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul to Espirito Santo).

Habitat

Mainly found in shady positions in forests, occasionally on the forest edges or in more shrubby formations[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, found at elevations from 350 metres and above. Plants can tolerate occasional temperatures as low as -5°c[].
Requires a humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil and a position in dappled shade[]. Prefers a circumneutral soil, disliking very acid or very alkaline conditions[]. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility[].
Plants require a temperature no lower than around 16°c when they are flowering in order to ensure fruit set[].
Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required to rejuvenate the plant[]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A sweet flavour that is greatly appreciated[, ]. The fruit has a very fragrant pulp[]. The yellow, ovoid to subglobose fruit is around 35 - 50mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The leaves and roots of some, if not all, members of this genus contain a substance called 'passiflorina' which has similaritiesr to morphine and is an effective tranquilizer[]. We have no specific information for this species but many species are used in herbal infusions to calm the nerves and help bring about a restful sleep[].
The leaves of many species are also considered to be anthelmintic, antihysteric and diaphoretic. They are used in Brazil to combat intermittent fevers, cutaneous inflammations, and erysipelas[].

Other Uses

This species can possibly be used as a rootstock for species such as Passiflora alata and Passiflora quadrangularis. It should confer greater hardiness and also have a dwarfing effect on the grafted plants[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe along with the pulp which will help break down the seed coat and speed up germination[]. 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[].
Cuttings of young shoots, taken at the nodes. The cuttings root best in a neutral to slightly acid compost, but 100% sharp sand also produces good results[].
Cuttings of fully mature wood taken at a node. They can take 3 months, but there is usually a high percentage[].
Layering. Very easy[].
Air layering.

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