Passiflora mollissima

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Banana passionfruit (Passiflora mollissima) is a strong, fast passion-flower vine climbing 5-10 m or more – too large and sun-demanding for a houseplant, but it can be grown in a big container on a warm, sunny patio with a robust support and firm pruning.

Quick Details

• Container Size: A large container, 40-80 L (10-18 gal), for a vine of 5-10+ m; it must have a strong trellis or frame
• Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant (the grower marks it “No”) – a vigorous, light-hungry climber, too big for indoors
• Best Spot: Full sun and warmth; a sheltered, sunny wall is ideal
• Soil & Drainage: Rich, free-draining mix; it is a thirsty, hungry vine
• Watering in Pots: Average to high – keep evenly moist through growth and fruiting

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• Houseplant limits: The grower marks it as not suitable indoors. It grows too fast and too large for any windowsill and needs full sun to flower and fruit.
• Under glass & vigour: In cold regions grow it in a large conservatory, kept frost-free; note it is a known invasive in mild climates, so keeping it potted and pruned helps prevent it escaping.

On a Balcony or Patio

• Light & wind: Give it the sunniest, most sheltered spot and a strong frame to climb; its dense growth catches wind, so secure the support. A big pot in sun dries fast – water generously.
• Practicalities: Expect a heavy, top-growing plant; use a stable container and prune hard to control size and spread.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• Pot & drainage: A large 40-80 L container with strong drainage holes; skip a standing water saucer to avoid root rot.
• Potting mix: Rich, well-aerated, free-draining mix – peat or coir with plenty of perlite.
• Feeding: A hungry climber: feed regularly through the season, easing off high nitrogen at flowering so it fruits rather than runs to leaf.
• Repotting: Pot on while young; long-term it outgrows a pot, so prune roots and top hard, and keep it contained to limit its spread.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Nearly year-round in warm climates; spring to autumn where it is cooler
• Flower Appearance: Nodding pink flowers with a long floral tube and about nine petal-like segments
• Edibility: Grown for its fruit; the flower itself is ornamental and not eaten

Detailed Blooming Overview

Banana passionfruit is a fast, vigorous climber whose pink flowers are a highlight in their own right. Each bloom hangs from a slender tube and opens to a soft pink, and where winters are mild the vine can flower almost all year. Give it a strong support and room to run — it is a powerful grower that can smother neighbours if left unchecked.

Flower Characteristics

• Colour is pink.
• Around nine petal-like segments, carried on a long floral tube, in the classic passionflower form.
• Held on a strong, fast-growing vine.

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Managing the vine: Keep the growth from becoming too dense so light and air reach the flowers; prune as needed through the year.
• Pollination: The flowers are worked by bees, which set the fruit that follows.