Passifloraceae FAMILY

Passiflora gracilis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitAnnual Climber

Growth—

Passiflora gracilis is the only truly annual species in the genus, being found mainly at low to moderate elevations in Mesoamerica, where it can be found up to 2,300 metres^[1]. It can be cultivated in cooler climes, succeeding even in warm temperate areas where the growing season is long enough to mature the fruit. Grows best in a position that is sheltered at least from the hottest sun of the day, growing in nature in the dappled shade of other plants^[2]. It prefers a well-drained soil on the light side, succeeding in conditions of low fertility but not growing well in heavy clays^[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5^[2]. Plants usually self-sow, even in cultivation in frost-free climates. In cooler areas it is important to save seed from the earlier ripening fruits and store them in a frost-free place before resowing when the warm season returns^[2].

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^[2]. 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)^[2]. Even so, it can take 12 months for stored seed to germinate^[2]. Place the seed tray in a shady position, maintaining a temperature around 19 - 24°c^[2]. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough^[2]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Passiflora+gracilis>

Pollinators

Insects

References

[1]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
[2]Passion Flowers — Vanderplank. J. · Cassell. London. · 1991 · ISBN 0-304-34076-6 ↩︎An excellent book on passion flowers, giving information on hardy species and how to grow the less hardy in greenhouses etc. A bit lacking at times on specific information on hardyness. Excellent photographs.
[3]Passifloraceae — MacDougal J.M. · 2011 ↩︎
[4]Dicionário das Plantas Úteis do Basil e das Exóticas Cultivadas Vol. 5 — Corrêa M. Pio & Penna L. de Azeredo · Ministério da Agricultura; Rio de Janeiro · 1978 ↩︎A massive work in six volumes, first published in the 1920's and revised in the 1970's. Written in Portuguese.
[PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎