# Common Passionfruit (*passiflora edulis*)

The Common Passionfruit is a vibrant, round fruit that grows on a climbing vine. Its sweet and tangy taste makes it a favorite for kids and adults alike!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, often climbing on trellises or fences.
- **Also known as:** Granadilla, Maracuja, Passiflora, Passion Fruit

![Common Passionfruit](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Markisa_madu_manis_seperti_kamu.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Rarani, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Markisa_madu_manis_seperti_kamu.jpg)

## Appearance

The Common Passionfruit has glossy, three-lobed leaves and climbing tendrils. Its unique, intricate flowers feature white petals with a crown of purple and white filaments, centered around prominent green stigmas and yellow anthers. The mature fruit is typically round or oval, turning deep purple or yellow when ripe.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Passifloraceae
- **Genus:** Passiflora

## Interesting facts

- Its incredible flowers have parts that look like tiny clocks, ropes, and crowns!
- Passionfruit vines can sprout from seeds and produce fruit in less than a year!
- Some caterpillars mimic its seeds to hide from hungry birds!
- The "passion" in its name refers to religious symbolism, not romantic love!

## Special abilities

- **Climbing Gripper:** Common Passionfruit has special coiling tendrils that help it quickly climb fences and trees to reach precious sunlight.
- **Nectar Baits:** Tiny nectar glands on its leaves attract ants, which then help protect the plant from harmful leaf-eating pests.
- **Smart Pollen Delivery:** Its large, intricate flowers are designed to perfectly place pollen on big bees, ensuring successful fruit production.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 300-900 cm
- **Spread:** 150-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa frontalis*) — Carries pollen between flowers, essential for fruit development.
- **Eats:** [Zebra Longwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra-longwing) (*Heliconius charithonia*) — Its caterpillars munch on the leaves, sometimes defoliating the vine.
- **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Humans cultivate and eat its delicious, tangy fruit worldwide.
- **Symbiotic with:** [Carpenter Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carpenter-ant) (*Camponotus atriceps*) — Attracted by leaf nectar, this ant helps protect the plant from pests.

## Traits

- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Common Passionfruit?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Common Passionfruit?

300-900 cm

### How wide does Common Passionfruit spread?

150-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on Common Passionfruit?

5-10 cm

### When does Common Passionfruit bloom?

Spring to fall

### Is Common Passionfruit edible?

Yes

### Is Common Passionfruit toxic?

None

### What is Common Passionfruit's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Kawai Nui Marsh](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kawai-nui-marsh) — Hawaii, US · Park
- [El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-presidio-de-santa-barbara-state-historic-park) — California, US · Historic Site

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Common Passionfruit: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-passionfruit)