How To Grow Granadillas

Varieties of granadilla

The most common species of granadilla are:

• Black, or purple, granadilla (Passiflora edulis)
• Yellow granadilla (P. edulis f. flavicarpa)
• Banana granadilla (P. mollissima) (a weed in South Africa; do not grow).

Other species that are widely grown in subtropical to tropical regions are:
• Jamaican honeysuckle or water lemon (P. laurifolia) – bright golden-orange fruits
• Sweet granadilla (P. ligularis) – generally thought the finest granadilla of all, with purple and white flowers and large orange fruits filled with exceptionally sweet and fragrant pulp
• Giant granadilla (P. quadrangularis) – crimson flowers and melon-sized fruits that have fragrant sweet pink pulp
• Sweet calabash (P. maliformis) – closely resembles the sweet granadilla and has grape-flavoured pulp and fragrant purple and white flowers.

Some selected varieties of grafted granadilla are:
• Panama Red – large, oval, smooth skinned fruits; intensely flavoured pulp similar to black granadilla, but needs warmer conditions
• Panama Gold – similar to Panama Red but with golden skin
• Nelly Kelly – hardy; large, smooth skinned, purple fruits; excellent quality
• Black Magic – cold-tolerant; superior quality
• Ester – a hybrid, grown from slips
• Super Sweet AV1– large, pink-skinned variety; heavy, regular bearer; good disease resistance
 

Best variety of granadilla to grow in South Africa

There are many species of passionfruit, or granadilla, suitable for the South African climate. The only species not recommended is Banana granadilla as it’s considered a weed in South Africa. Two species well worth considering are the excellent and hardy Nelly Kelly or the Super Sweet AV1 because it bears regular fruit and has good disease resistance.  

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