How to grow Passionfruit in Australia
Passionfruit is a fast, vigorous vine that can cover a fence in a season and crop heavily for about six or seven years. It needs full sun, a strong support, good drainage and frost-free conditions, and it rewards moderate feeding rather than heavy feeding.
📖 Our full guide: Planting Passionfruit in Australia: Growing Passion Fruit
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to April | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to April | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to March | Plant Sep to Mar so the vine is established before winter. Grafted black passionfruit handles cool Sydney winters best; in the west plant after the last frost. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Hardy vines survive light frosts if mulched. Sow or plant from October to December for a spring and summer crop. Frost may kill new growth, but the plant regrows. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to November | Plant vines Sep to Nov against a warm wall. Protect from frost for the first two winters. Water deeply through summer. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Plant vines Sep to Nov on a sunny fence or trellis. Feed and water well on sandy soil, and shade the roots with mulch through summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable for reliable cropping. Vines survive in rare frost-free coastal corners but fruit rarely ripens well. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Marginal. Plant in November after the last frost against a warm north wall. Vines are often killed in hard winters. |
| North Queensland | September to April | Spring/early wet season Sep to Apr. Passionfruit is a tropical staple; vines thrive with monsoonal wet. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to April | Spring/early wet season Sep to Apr. Passionfruit is a tropical staple; vines thrive with monsoonal wet. |
Where to plant
Pick an open, sunny position with no trees or large shrubs nearby, as their roots compete for water and food. Passionfruit dislikes strong wind and frost. A sturdy trellis, fence or wire frame is essential, because a mature vine full of fruit is heavy.
The soil must drain freely. Waterlogged soil leads to collar rot at the base of the vine. Dig in plenty of compost before planting.
- Tropical and subtropical areas (North Queensland, the Top End, South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers): passionfruit thrives. Panama types do well in the heat and humidity.
- Sydney, Perth and Adelaide: grow a grafted black passionfruit such as Nellie Kelly against a warm, sunny fence, and protect young vines from frost for the first two winters.
- Melbourne and Canberra: marginal. Choose a grafted black passionfruit and the warmest, most sheltered north-facing wall you have. Hobart is generally too cold for reliable fruit.
Choosing a variety
- Black passionfruit, such as the grafted Nellie Kelly, is the best choice for cooler and southern areas.
- Panama types (Panama Red and Panama Gold) have larger fruit and suit the tropics and subtropics.
- Buy grafted vines. The rootstock gives resistance to fusarium wilt and other soil diseases, which often kill seedling vines.
How to plant
- Plant in spring once the risk of frost has passed.
- Put up the trellis or wires first.
- Dig a hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the pot, and mix in plenty of compost.
- Plant at the same depth the vine sat in its pot. Do not tease out the roots, which dislike disturbance, and keep the graft well above the soil.
- Water in well, then water every day for the first week, wetting a wide area to encourage the roots to spread.
- Mulch over the root area, keeping it away from the stem.
- Let one main stem grow up to the top of the support, removing side shoots until it gets there. Then let side shoots grow along the wires.
Watering and feeding
Give the roots a regular deep soak in dry weather, especially while the vine is flowering and the fruit is filling. Water over a wide area, not just at the stem, and keep the mulch topped up. Do not overwater: soggy soil causes root and collar rot.
Feed moderately. Compost spread over the root area a couple of times a year, plus a seaweed solution, is enough for most vines; a handful of pelletised poultry manure in spring and summer also suits them. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers, which give a huge leafy vine with few flowers and fruit.
Pruning and care through the year
- Fruit forms on the current season's growth, so a prune in late winter or early spring, once frost has passed, keeps the vine productive. Advice on how hard to prune varies (see the questions below).
- Rub or cut off any shoots that come from below the graft. Rootstock shoots have different, often deeply lobed leaves and will take over if left.
- Check ties and wires each year, as a loaded vine is heavy and tight ties can split the bark.
- Plan a replacement vine after about five or six years, as older vines crop less.
Harvesting
Passionfruit is ripe when it is fully coloured and falls from the vine. Collect fallen fruit every day or two. You can also pick fruit that is fully coloured and comes away easily.
Wrinkled skin is fine: the pulp inside sweetens as the fruit wrinkles on the bench. The main crops come in summer and autumn, with a smaller winter crop in warm areas.
Growing in pots
A passionfruit can grow in a large pot, at least 60 cm wide, with a strong trellis attached or placed against a fence. Use a premium potting mix, water often in summer, and expect a smaller crop and shorter life than a vine in the ground.
Companion planting
Passionfruit roots spread wide and dislike being disturbed, so keep digging and vegetable beds away from the base. Flowering plants nearby help bring in the bees that pollinate the flowers.
Good companions
- Borage Its flowers bring in bees, which pollinate passionfruit flowers.
- Flowering herbs Herbs such as basil, thyme and oregano left to flower bring in bees and other helpful insects. Keep them a little away from the base.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to passionfruit.
- Trees and large shrubs Their roots compete with the vine for water and food, and they shade it.
Pests and diseases
Most vine losses come from soil diseases and viruses. Grafted vines, good drainage and moderate feeding prevent most of them.
Pests to watch for
- Fruit fly Stings on young fruit that leave hard, scarred patches, and maggots in fallen fruit. Use fruit fly traps or baits.
- Scale Small bumps on stems and leaves, often with sooty mould.
Diseases to watch for
- Passionfruit woodiness virus Mottled, puckered leaves and small, misshapen fruit with a thick, hard rind and little pulp. Spread by aphids. Remove badly affected vines.
- Fusarium wilt The whole vine wilts and dies suddenly, often just as it starts cropping. Grafted vines on resistant rootstock are the main defence.
- Collar rot Bark at the base of the stem cracks, darkens and oozes, and the vine collapses. Keep mulch off the stem and avoid waterlogging.
- Brown spot Brown spots on leaves and fruit, and dieback of shoots, in warm, wet weather.
Common questions
Why is my passionfruit flowering but not fruiting?
The usual causes are a young vine (expect about 18 months in cool areas), poor pollination in cold or wet weather or where there are few bees, and too much nitrogen fertiliser. Plant flowering herbs nearby to bring in bees and avoid using insecticides on the vine.
Why does my passionfruit vine have different leaves and no fruit?
It is probably the rootstock growing. Shoots from below the graft have different, often deeply lobed leaves and will smother the fruiting variety. Cut them off at their base as soon as you see them.
How do I know when passionfruit is ripe?
When it is fully coloured and drops from the vine. Collect fallen fruit daily. Wrinkled fruit is fine and often sweeter.
Why are my passionfruit falling off while still green?
Dry soil or heat stress while the fruit is filling, poor pollination and disease can all cause green fruit to drop. Water deeply in dry spells and keep the vine mulched. Small, hard, misshapen fruit points to woodiness virus.
How do I prune a passionfruit vine?
Prune in late winter or early spring once frost has passed, because fruit forms on new growth. Advice varies on how hard: some gardeners trim only about 30 cm off the growing tips, while others cut the whole vine back to within about a metre of the main stem every few years to renew it. Never cut into the main trunk below the framework, and leave plenty of healthy growing tips.
How long do passionfruit vines live?
Usually about six or seven years before they crop poorly. Plant a new vine a year or two before the old one declines.
Can I grow passionfruit in Melbourne?
It is possible but marginal. Choose a grafted black passionfruit such as Nellie Kelly, plant it in spring against a warm, sunny wall sheltered from wind, and mulch the roots before winter.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Passionfruit 101; Gardening Australia: Growing Passionfruit; Gardening Australia: Planting Passionfruit; Gardening Australia: Passionfruit Professional.