How to grow Passionfruit in New Zealand
Black passionfruit is a fast, evergreen climbing vine that covers a fence or trellis in a season and fills it with purple fruit from late summer into winter. It grows best in the warm, frost-free upper North Island and in sheltered, sun-trapped spots further south. Vines are short lived, cropping well for about four to seven years, so plan to replace them. Grow only edible passionfruit: banana passionfruit and blue passion flower are banned pest plants in New Zealand.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Passionfruit in NZ: When to Plant and Prune Vines
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | October to December | |
| Auckland | October to December | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | October to December | |
| Central North Island | November | Marginal. Only on a warm north facing wall in sheltered Rotorua gardens; frost kills it in exposed sites. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | October to December | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | October to December | |
| Canterbury | November | Marginal. Plant in November against a warm, sheltered north facing wall, and protect the vine from frost in winter. |
| Otago & Southland | Not suited | Too cold for passionfruit outdoors. Frost kills the vine; grow it in a glasshouse. |
| Central Otago | Not suited | Hard frosts kill passionfruit here. Not suited outdoors. |
Not to be confused with: Banana passionfruit (Passiflora tarminiana and P. tripartita) and blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea). Both are pest plants under the National Pest Plant Accord, so they must not be sold, propagated or shared.
Where to plant
Plant passionfruit against a sunny, sheltered wall, fence, trellis or deck rail, out of the wind, which damages the vine. In very hot areas a little shade is fine. The vine climbs by tendrils and can grow several metres in a year, so the support must be strong and long.
Excellent drainage is essential: passionfruit roots rot in wet soil, and waterlogged vines drop leaves and decline. The vines grow in many soils, but light to heavier sandy loams rich in organic matter, around pH 6.5 to 7.5, suit them best. Dig in compost and sheep pellets before planting, and lime acid soil.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty: the best districts. Plant from October to December in a warm, sheltered spot.
- Wellington and Nelson and Marlborough: plant from October to December against a warm, north-facing wall sheltered from wind.
- Central North Island: marginal. Only on a warm north-facing wall in sheltered gardens, such as in Rotorua; frost kills it in exposed sites.
- Canterbury: marginal. Plant in November against a warm, sheltered north-facing wall and protect the vine from frost in winter.
- Otago and Southland, and Central Otago: too cold outdoors; frost kills the vine. Grow it in a glasshouse.
Choosing a variety
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Black Beauty | The usual home-garden black passionfruit: self fertile, with egg-shaped, dark purple fruit and juicy yellow-orange pulp, harvested about March to June. Grows 1.5 to 7 m a year once established |
| Yellow passionfruit | Round fruit that turns yellow when ripe, with aromatic pulp; vigorous |
| Sweet granadilla | Large, round orange fruit with sweet, juicy pulp; self fertile and fast growing |
| Giant granadilla | Very large fruit up to about 30 cm on a very vigorous vine; needs a long, warm season and benefits from hand pollination |
Buy vines from a garden centre or nursery. Do not grow banana passionfruit or blue passion flower, and do not take cuttings or seed from wild vines.
How to plant
- Plant between mid spring and mid summer, once the soil is warm and frosts are over.
- Put up the support first. Space vines at least 2 m apart.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide and deep as the root ball and partly fill it with citrus and fruit mix or compost-enriched soil.
- Gently loosen the root ball and plant at the same depth as in the pot, with any graft union above the soil.
- Water in well and mulch, keeping mulch clear of the stem.
- Train the main stem up the support, removing side shoots until it reaches the height you want, then pinch out the tip so side branches spread along the support.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly to keep the vine flowering and fruiting, deeply in dry summers. Water needs are highest as fruit approaches maturity; dry soil makes fruit shrivel and drop early. In autumn, cut back to once or twice a week so the vine does not push soft growth before winter.
Feed regularly through spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser rich in potassium and not too high in nitrogen, such as a citrus fertiliser. In frost-free areas feed again after fruiting in late summer or early autumn; in frost-prone areas wait until spring. Mulch to hold moisture.
Pruning and care through the year
- Passionfruit fruit on the current season's growth. Prune in early spring once frost risk has passed, cutting the vine back by about a third to stimulate new fruiting growth.
- In autumn, remove weak, dead and tangled stems to improve airflow and reduce disease.
- After fruiting, collect fallen leaves and remove brown leaves from the vine, as they can harbour pests and diseases.
- A copper-based fungicide and horticultural oil clean-up spray in autumn and winter is beneficial.
- If your vine is grafted, rub off any suckers from below the graft straight away. Some older grafted vines used blue passion flower, a banned pest plant, as rootstock.
- Plant flowers nearby to attract bees. In poor weather, hand pollinate mid-morning by dusting yellow pollen from one flower onto the centre of another; flowers last only a day and set best on warm days.
- Replace vines every five to seven years, as cropping declines.
Harvesting
Fruit takes two to three months to ripen and is ready from late summer into early winter, about February to June. Black passionfruit is ripe when it turns fully dark purple and falls, or drops when the vine is gently shaken. Gather fallen fruit every day or two, picking in the morning before the sun can scorch it.
Ripe fruit can sit on the bench until it wrinkles, which sweetens it, then keeps two to three weeks in the fridge. Freeze surplus pulp in ice cube trays.
Growing in pots
Passionfruit grows well in a large pot, at least 50 to 60 cm wide and the larger the better, as long as it has a strong trellis or fence to climb. Use citrus and fruit potting mix, water often in summer and feed regularly. In cooler districts a pot can be moved to a sheltered spot over winter.
Pests and diseases
Passionvine hopper is the best-known pest of passionfruit in New Zealand, and root diseases from poor drainage are the most common cause of vine death.
Pests to watch for
- Passionvine hopper Small brown, triangular-winged hoppers and fluffy-tailed white nymphs on stems in summer, with sticky honeydew and sooty mould.
- Guava moth Caterpillars tunnelling in the fruit, mainly in the upper North Island.
- Scale Small crusty bumps on stems and leaves with sticky honeydew.
Diseases to watch for
- Fusarium wilt The whole vine or a section suddenly wilts and dies, often in warm weather, with brown staining inside the stem. Plant in free-draining soil and replace affected vines.
- Passionfruit woodiness virus Mottled, distorted leaves and small, hard, thick-skinned, misshapen fruit. Remove affected vines and control aphids, which spread it.
- Root rot Yellowing, leaf drop and decline in wet, poorly drained soil.
Common questions
Can I grow passionfruit in Christchurch or Wellington?
In Wellington and Nelson, yes, against a warm, north-facing wall sheltered from wind. In Canterbury it is marginal: plant in November against the warmest wall and protect it from frost. Further south, grow it in a glasshouse.
How long does a passionfruit vine take to fruit?
About 18 months after planting. Vines then crop well for about four to seven years before they need replacing.
When is passionfruit ripe?
When black passionfruit turns fully dark purple and falls from the vine, usually from about February to June. Gather fallen fruit daily and let it wrinkle on the bench for the sweetest pulp.
Why is my passionfruit dropping fruit?
Usually dry soil while the fruit is maturing, or poor pollination in cool, wet weather. Water deeply in dry spells and plant flowers to attract bees, or hand pollinate.
Can I grow banana passionfruit?
No. Banana passionfruit and blue passion flower are pest plants under the National Pest Plant Accord, so they must not be sold, propagated or shared. Grow black passionfruit instead.
When should I prune passionfruit?
In early spring once frost risk has passed, cutting the vine back by about a third, as it fruits on new growth. Tidy out weak and tangled stems in autumn.
Why has my passionfruit vine suddenly died?
Sudden collapse is often fusarium wilt or root rot from wet soil. Plant replacement vines in a new, free-draining spot. Vines are also naturally short lived, so older vines decline after five to seven years.
Sources we checked: Tui: Passionfruit growing guide; Incredible Edibles: Passionfruit; Yates NZ: How to grow passionfruit; Weedbusters: Banana passionfruit; Weedbusters: Blue passion flower; Wikipedia: National Pest Plant Accord (species list).