Black Passionfruit

Black Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis 'Black') is a vigorous, fast-growing vine that climbs to 3m to 5m and produces large burgundy-red edible fruit. Flowers appear through most of the year except the cooler months, and the fruit follows them. It is a grafted plant, so it is more vigorous and resilient, and copes with a wider range of soils, than an ungrafted vine.

Why you'll love it

• Large burgundy fruit. The fruit is big, with a burgundy-red skin, and it follows the flowers through most of the year apart from the cooler months.
• Grafted for strength. Grafting gives extra vigour and resilience and lets it thrive in a wider range of soils.
• A fast privacy screen. The vine climbs over fences and trellises quickly, so you get cover and fruit from the same plant.
• Pretty flowers. The flowers come first and attract butterflies, so it earns its keep before any fruit appears.
• Years of harvest. Expect fruit in about 9 to 12 months from tube stock, and the vine fruits for five to seven years after planting.

Where it works best

Fences and trellises. Plant 3m apart along a sunny fence or sturdy trellis. The vines will meet and make a dense screen as well as a crop.

Pergolas and arbours. Trained over an arbour, the vine gives shade and fruit from a single plant. Build the frame sturdily, because a mature vine is heavy.

Warm courtyards. A single vine against a sunny wall makes a productive feature, provided it has room to climb.

Growing Black Passionfruit in Australia

Position and climate. A warm, sunny or partly shaded position suits it. It is sensitive to frost, so it does best in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. In colder districts, plant it against a warm sheltered wall.

Soil. Free-draining soil rich in organic matter. Because this is a grafted plant, keep the grafting point above the soil when planting.

Water and feed. It needs regular water to grow well. Mulch and water until established, and keep watering during dry periods. Plenty of organic matter in the soil helps hold moisture around the roots.

Pruning. Remove any shoots that emerge from below the grafting point. These will be flowering passionfruit, not fruiting stems, and they can overrun the grafted plant. Tidy the vine as needed to keep it on its support.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Black Passionfruit as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Because it is grafted, expect a small plant with a visible graft near the base, and plant it so that point stays above the soil. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. The tube shows as sold out when the grower has none, and the notify button on the page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Edible plants and bush tucker
• More climbers for fences and trellises
• Growing a successful fruit and vegetable garden
• Fast growing plants

Common questions

How long until I get fruit?

Plan on about 9 to 12 months from tube stock. After that the vine fruits for several years.

What is the graft, and why does it matter?

The graft is the join near the base where the fruiting variety sits on a stronger root system. Keep it above the soil, and remove any shoots that appear below it.

Will it cope with frost?

It is sensitive to frost, so choose a warm, sheltered position. In colder districts, protect it in winter or grow it against a warm wall.