Sweetheart Passionfruit

Sweetheart Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis 'Sweetheart') is a vigorous, fast-growing vine that climbs to 3m to 5m, known for abundant fruit that is sweeter than usual. Large burgundy-purple passionfruit follow purple and white flowers through most of the year, apart from the cooler months. Train it over a fence or trellis and you get a privacy screen that also feeds you.

Why you'll love it

• Sweeter fruit. The fruits are abundant and sweeter than the usual passionfruit, with plenty of juicy pulp inside.
• Large, deep-coloured fruit. The skins are a burgundy-purple colour, and the fruit hangs in numbers once the vine is mature.
• A fast privacy screen. The vine covers a fence or trellis quickly, giving you cover and a crop together.
• Flowers for butterflies. Purple and white flowers attract butterflies, long before the fruit arrives.
• Years of picking. Fruit comes about 9 to 12 months after planting tube stock, and the vine keeps fruiting for five to seven years.

Where it works best

Fences and trellises. Plant 3m apart along a sunny fence or sturdy trellis. Neighbouring vines meet in a season or two and form a dense screen.

Pergolas. Over a pergola the vine gives shade and fruit, and the hanging fruit is easy to pick.

Edible gardens. Use it as the back wall of a vegetable and herb garden, where it makes use of vertical space.

Growing Sweetheart Passionfruit in Australia

Position and climate. Choose a warm, sunny or partly shaded area. The vine is sensitive to frost, so it suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens best. In cooler districts, plant against a sheltered, sunny wall.

Soil. Free-draining soil rich in organic matter. Dig in compost at planting, and mulch to hold moisture around the roots.

Water and feed. It needs regular water to grow well. Mulch and water until established, then water during dry periods, especially when flowers and fruit are forming.

Pruning. Tidy the vine as needed to keep growth on its support. Cut out dead or tangled stems to keep the plant open.

What to expect when it arrives

Sweetheart is sold as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives small, so tie the first shoots to the support as soon as it is planted. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available: when the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment, 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

• Browse edible plants
• Climbers for fences and trellises
• Planning the layout of an edible backyard
• Plants for bees and butterflies

Common questions

How sweet is the fruit?

Sweetheart fruits are sweeter than the usual passionfruit and produce a lot of juicy pulp.

When will it fruit?

About 9 to 12 months after you plant the tube stock. Flowers and fruit then appear through most of the year, apart from the cooler months.

Does it need a lot of water?

Yes. It needs regular water to grow well, so mulch the roots and water through dry periods.