Passionfruit ‘Flame Ruby’

Passionfruit 'Flame Ruby' (Passiflora edulis 'Flame Ruby') is a vigorous fruiting climber that covers roughly 4m of fence or trellis and spreads about 2m across. It carries the classic passionflower bloom, white with a purple filament crown, then sets edible fruit. Give it a strong support, full sun and steady water and one vine will keep a household in passionfruit.

Why you'll love it

• Fruit and a screen from the one plant. It covers a fence quickly, so you get privacy along a boundary and a crop off the same vine.
• Fast growing. In a warm garden it goes from a small plant to real coverage inside a season.
• Distinctive flowers. White petals with a purple filament crown, and the bees find them straight away.
• Handles heat, humidity and coastal air. It suits warm coastal gardens as well as inland ones.

Where it works best

Fences, trellises and screening. One plant covers about 4m of standard fence. For a longer run, plant 2m apart so the vines interleave without one shading out the other.

Balconies and courtyards. A pot of at least 50L with a sturdy trellis works, though a potted vine needs more water and feeding.

Feature planting. Trained over an arch or pergola it earns its place on the flowers alone.

Growing Passionfruit 'Flame Ruby' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and a support strong enough to hold a heavy vine. This is a plant for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so in a frosty district use a north facing wall or a pot that can be moved. An exposed vine in a cold garden gets knocked back each winter.

Soil. Free draining and improved with plenty of compost. Passionfruit hate waterlogging, and collar rot in wet heavy soil is the most common way one dies, so mound the planting hole on clay.

Water and feed. Water deeply and regularly while fruit is filling, because dry spells cause fruit drop and thin pulp. Feed generously: a citrus or fruit tree fertiliser every six to eight weeks through the growing season, plus potash. Too much nitrogen gives leaf and no fruit.

Pruning. Train two or three main leaders along the support, then in early spring shorten the laterals by about a third, because fruit forms on new wood.

Life span. Be realistic. A passionfruit vine is productive for roughly five to seven years, then declines.

What to expect when it arrives

This vine is grown in tube stock. A tube is a young plant with a few leaves and a compact root ball, which is genuinely the best way to buy a passionfruit: they resent root disturbance, so a small plant establishes faster and overtakes a pot bound one within months.

Plant it out with the support already in place, water it in well, and expect real growth within three to four weeks in warm weather. Fruit usually comes in the second year. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Plan the edible garden with our guide to planting fruit for every season.
• Compare it with Passionfruit 'Panama Gold', a larger vine covering about 5m.
• Browse other climbing plants and vines.
• See the rest of the edible plants and bush tucker range.

Common questions

How much fence will one vine cover?

About 4m of standard fence or trellis, spreading roughly 2m. For a longer boundary plant them 2m apart.

Why is it flowering but not setting fruit?

Usually poor pollination in wet or very hot weather, or too much nitrogen. Ease off the nitrogen, add potash, and hand pollinate with a small brush if bees are scarce.

How long will the vine last?

Expect five to seven productive years. Cropping tapers off after that, and a replacement beats trying to rejuvenate an old vine.