Passiflora edulis 'Possum Purple'
fruitPossum Purple is a standout purple passion fruit selected for vigor, cold tolerance, and reliable self-fruitfulness, so a single vine sets a full crop on its own. The fast, woody, tendrilled climber is handsome enough to cover a fence, arbor, or trellis as an ornamental, then rewards you with intricate purple-and-white flowers followed by round, wrinkly purple fruit. Inside is golden, aromatic, sweet-tart pulp full of crunchy edible seeds - spooned fresh, strained for juice, or spooned over desserts. Vines are short-lived perennials, often most productive in their first few years and easily restarted from seed or cuttings.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~15 months
to first harvest
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
3-5 ft apart on a trellis
Planting Depth
Top of the root ball level with the soil surface
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Sandy loam, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9 – 12
When to Fertilize
2-3 times a year during active growth
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer, moderate nitrogen
Passion fruit grows best in full sun in zones 9b to 11, climbing by tendrils on a fence, trellis, or arbor that can carry a heavy vine. It tolerates sandy, loamy, and clay soils and brief wet spells but has poor salt tolerance and wants steady moisture during flowering and fruiting. Set plants 3 to 5 ft apart along the support and train the main stems up and along the top wires. The purple types (and Possum Purple in particular) are self-compatible, so no second vine is required, though bees improve set. Feed two or three times a year with a balanced fertilizer to keep growth vigorous - but go easy on nitrogen, since an overfed vine makes leaves at the expense of flowers. Prune after fruiting to remove tangled, spent wood and spur fresh growth.
Direct sow
Apr 15
Projected first harvest
Jul 4 · Year 2
Year 1
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
A serious problem in sandy soil - plant in fresh or amended ground, mulch heavily, and interplant marigolds; replace declining vines on new ground
Several feed on passion-vine foliage - hand-pick, accept light damage (the vine is a butterfly host), and use Bt only for heavy outbreaks
Cluster on new growth and can spread virus - rinse off, encourage ladybugs, and treat with insecticidal soap
A soil fungus that collapses vines - ensure drainage, avoid replanting in infected ground, and choose vigorous rootstock
A vigorous vine often fruits within its first year, about 70 to 80 days from flower to ripe fruit. The fruit is ripe when it turns deep purple and wrinkles slightly, and the easiest harvest is to simply let ripe fruit drop and gather it from the ground daily - flavor is fullest when the skin dimples. Refrigerate to hold, or scoop and freeze the pulp. A little wrinkling means sweeter, not spoiled, fruit.
About 97 calories per 100 g with a remarkable 10 g fiber (largely from the edible seeds), 30 mg vitamin C, 348 mg potassium, and good vitamin A and iron. The intensely aromatic pulp adds tropical flavor to juices, sauces, desserts, and drinks, and a little goes a long way.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.
Year 2