Passiflora alata aka Wingstem Passionflower

Passiflora alata is a vine in the passion-flower family. It keeps its leaves all year. Names include fragrant granadilla and winged passion-flower. It comes from South America. Its range runs from Ecuador to Brazil and northeastern Argentina. It grows in wet tropical lands, in rainforests and on coastal levees. People grow it for its scent, blooms and edible fruit.

In gardens, it grows 13–26 feet [4–8 metres] tall. It spreads about 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres] wide. Some reports list stems up to 49 feet [15 metres] long. The thick stems have four angles, each with a wing. Coiled tendrils grip nearby growth and help the vine climb. With no support, stems can trail on the ground. The large green leaves have three lobes. Plants take about five to ten years to reach full size.

The blooms have a scent and a broad bowl shape. They span about 0.4 feet [0.12 metres]. Red tepals spread round a corona, a ring striped purple and white. Yellow fruit comes next, about 0.4 feet [0.12 metres] long. It may have an oval or pear shape. The juicy pulp can taste sweet, though reports of taste vary. People eat the fruit raw and put its pulp in drinks. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards. This does not prove that all plant parts are safe.

Grow this vine in moist soil that drains well. Use loam or sand with added humus. Sources support sun or light, broken shade. Under glass, give strong light but screen out hot sun. Water well as it grows; give less in winter. RHS accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soils. Useful Tropical Plants prefers soil close to neutral and warns against extremes. Choose a spot with shelter, or use a greenhouse. RHS rates it H1C and calls for frost-free cover. One other account says it can stand 2°C for brief spells. To set fruit, it needs warmth while in bloom: near 16°C or above.

This vine suits conservatories, greenhouses and subtropical garden schemes. Its main garden worth lies in its blooms, year-round leaves and fruit. Commercial cosmetics use fruit extracts for hair and leaf extracts for skin. Under glass, red spider mites, scale insects and whiteflies may attack. Viruses may cause harm, too; honey fungus poses a rare risk. Prune in early spring. Sow seed in spring, or take semi-hardwood cuttings in summer. You can also raise plants by layering in spring or autumn.