Giant granadilla

We describe this beautiful flower from the outside in: 5 white sepals with a red blush, arranged crosswise; 5 deeper red petals, edged with a wreath of violet-blue, curled corona, and in the center, the decorative pistil and stamens. The fruits are large (up to 30 cm long and weighing up to 4 kg!) and, of course, edible. The ripe color is light green. Germination is slow and irregular. (See also 645370)

Sowing passionflowers is a fascinating adventure! Regular supply of fresh seeds is important, otherwise germination takes a very long time or fails. Through collaboration with the National Passiflora Collection, we are assured of a successful and special assortment. The flowering period is usually in summer, from May-November. In the plant's cycle, a sowing time from February-May is recommended, but with extra care, year-round sowing is possible. First, soak the seeds for 1 day in milk, then sow in an airy mixture of 3/4 sieved peat moss and 1/4 washed sand, under cover of a hood or film. Germination temperature 25-30°C, ventilate when the first pair of leaves has formed. Most species produce fruit through cross-pollination; a few self-pollinators are mentioned separately. Some species are resistant to our winters outdoors, others should be treated as container plants.

Names:
Latin: Passiflora quadrangularis
Dutch: Koningspassiebloem
English: Giant Granadilla