Passiflora mixta aka Passion Flower

Passiflora mixta is an evergreen vine in the passionflower family, Passifloraceae. One common name is Curuba de Indio. Its native range spans western South America and reaches Venezuela. Records include Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome. It grows at high elevations, from about 8,370–11,810 feet [2,550–3,600 metres]. It resembles the related Passiflora tripartita mollissima, which can cause confusion when naming plants.

Its shoots reach about 13 feet [4 metres] long. They can trail across the ground or climb nearby plants. Coiling tendrils hold the stems to their supports. This climbing habit lets the vine grow through surrounding plants. The plant keeps its leaves year-round. Growers raise it both for its fruit and as an ornamental. People also gather fruit from wild plants for local use. It is grown in a number of tropical countries.

The egg-shaped fruit turns green to greenish yellow. Each fruit measures about 0.15–0.20 feet [0.045–0.060 metres] long. Its width is about 0.07–0.08 feet [0.020–0.025 metres]. The edible part is the pulp around the seeds. It has a pleasant taste and scent. People eat it raw or use it in juice. Other uses include marmalade, ice cream and alcoholic drinks. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards for this species. That report does not establish the safety of every plant part.

In cultivation, give the roots moist soil that drains well. The soil should contain plenty of humus. Choose dappled shade, with space for shoots to reach sunlight. A near-neutral soil suits it best. It dislikes strongly acid or strongly alkaline conditions. During flowering, temperatures should stay around 16°C or above for fruit set. This flowering threshold is not a winter hardiness rating. The supplied sources give no firm frost limit.

Fresh seed is best sown with its pulp soon after ripening. Stored seed may take up to a year to germinate. The seed tray needs shade and warmth of about 19–24°C. Young shoots can also provide cuttings taken at the nodes. The vine has escaped gardens in parts of East Africa. It has also become established outside cultivation in New Guinea. These escapes support treating its weed potential with care.