Passion Fruit Plant Types: Purple, Yellow, Possum Purple

The first choice among passion fruit plants is purple or yellow, and the second is whether you need a cold-hardy alternative. UF/IFAS says the purple passion fruit is the most commonly cultivated type in the United States, with the yellow form grown less widely, and both are one species, Passiflora edulis. This guide compares the types you are likely to meet, plus maypop, a hardy native. For planting and care, see our passion fruit vine guide.

Passion fruit types compared

For close-ups, see our pages on Possum Purple and maypop.

Purple or yellow passion fruit?

This is the question that matters most, because it decides whether one vine is enough.

Purple. UF/IFAS says purple passion fruit flowers are self-fertile, so a single vine can fruit alone. The true purple passion fruit is said to be adapted to high-elevation environments in the tropics, and it ripens from dark purple or burgundy. UF/IFAS notes that parasitic nematodes are more likely to attack the roots of purple passion fruit than yellow, and says purple vines can be grafted onto a yellow rootstock to reduce disease problems that affect the roots.

Yellow. UF/IFAS says yellow passion vines are not self-fertile and need pollen from a compatible vine that is genetically different. Yellow types and purple-yellow hybrids are considered better adapted to lower, warmer elevations. If you grow yellow, plant two vines that are genetically different, or hand-pollinate.

Hybrids. Purple-yellow hybrids may or may not be self-fertile (UF/IFAS), so ask the nursery, or assume you will need to help pollination along.

Pick by situation

For the simplest start: a purple type

A self-fertile purple type needs no partner, so it is the easiest to get fruit from in a small garden or a pot. Possum Purple is the one UF/IFAS names as most widely grown in south Florida.

For a red or larger fruit: Panama Red

UF/IFAS says Panama Red has a red peel when ripe, is oval, and can be larger than Possum Purple with a similar flavor. It is likely a selection made by Australian producers for higher yields.

For the warmest, lowest sites: yellow

UF/IFAS says yellow types and purple-yellow hybrids are better adapted to lower, warmer elevations. Yellow Sweet Sunrise is described as a yellow type with fruit about the size of a baseball, sold by nurseries in southern Florida.

For cold winters: maypop

Other cultivars you may see

UF/IFAS names other cultivars of interest, including Australian Purple, Don’s Choice, Frederick and McGuffy, and lists yellow cultivars such as Kapoho Selection, Mike’s Choice and Panama Gold. UF/IFAS also describes Whitman, a yellow seedling selected by William Whitman, a well-known tropical fruit enthusiast in south Florida. Nurseries label and sell passion fruit under many names, so ask where a plant came from and whether it is purple, yellow or a hybrid.

How long until you get passion fruit?

UF/IFAS says the time from flowering to harvest is generally 70 to 75 days, and a one-year-old vine can be expected to produce 5 to 15 lb of fruit per plant. That figure is for passion fruit in general, not for a single cultivar.

Buying a variety

Buy a plant from a nursery in your region, or from a plant sale run by your county extension office or a local fruit-growers club, and check that the label says what type it is. You can also grow from seed, which UF/IFAS says germinates in about a week and a half to three weeks if kept warm, or from cuttings of healthy, productive plants. A seedling can vary from its parent, so a cutting is the safer way to copy a vine you like.

Next steps

Once you have a type in mind, read the passion fruit vine guide for planting and care. If your vine flowers but does not fruit, see why a passion fruit flowers but does not fruit. For other warm-climate fruit, try our dragon fruit guide or banana varieties guide, or browse the tropical fruit section.