There is a passionflower for every Central Florida yard; they attract butterflies, some have showy flowers, and some types even have edible fruit! Most passionflowers are vines. Compact species can be planted in small yards to take advantage of vertical growing space, while other species that tend to sprawl can be used to cover a fence or pergola. Many Floridians grow passionflowers in the landscape as ornamentals or edibles and there is some small-scale production of passionfruit in South Florida.

Passionflowers attract a variety of pollinating insects. In Central Florida, some passionflower species attract Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing butterflies, whose caterpillars exclusively feed on passionflower leaves.

There are hundreds of species of passionflower. Be cautious before planting unknown species, as some can become invasive, and some are simply not suitable for Central Florida’s climate. Passionflower vines must have well-drained soil, but need regular irrigation. Plant passionflowers in a sunny location. Have a suitable trellis for the plants to grow up.

Some non-native passionflowers grown for fruit will become invasive if they are not maintained appropriately. Avoid growing those vines on tall fences, property lines, or up trees so they can be pruned back easily and dropped fruits can be collected. Fruiting species should be fertilized monthly in the warm months. Vines grown for fruit need to be pruned back in spring to encourage new stem growth, where the fruit is borne. Passionflowers are mostly pollinated by bees; protect pollinators by avoiding pesticide use when plants are blooming.

All passionflowers produce fruit, but not all fruits taste good and some are actually toxic to humans. Don’t consume fruits or other plant parts without confirming the plant species and suitability for food.

Harvest passionfruit when it is the color that the species is supposed to be when ripe. Let it sit a few days until the skin is wrinkled. To eat passionfruit, cut open the shell and scoop out the seeds. The juicy, yellow pulp surrounding the seeds is actually the tasty part of the fruit. Seeds can be eaten with the pulp, strained out with a mesh strainer or use a blender on “pulse” to separate seeds from pulp and then strain. Passionfruit juice can be used in beverages, desserts and jellies.

For more information on gardening and farming, contact the UF IFAS Extension-Osceola County: 321-697-3000, http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/osceola/.

The Osceola News Gazette 22 W. Monument Ave, Suite 5 Kissimmee, FL 34744 Phone: (407) 846-7600 Email: editor@osceolanewsgazette.com

© 2022 Osceola News Gazette