PASSIFLORA edulis

Rustic and vigorous climber, perennial and semi-deciduous, with a rather fast growth and native to Central and South America: at the maximum of its development it can rise over 3 m and widen in an almost similar way. Lignified and branched from the base, it has thin, herbaceous or semi-woody stems, which, thanks to the presence of long and delicate tendrils, are able to hook everything around them and move upwards. The leaves, wide and alternate, smooth and glabrous, are webbed-lobed with slightly kerning, glossy and dark green margins. In summer, the showy flowers, with white tepals and amazing unusual architecture, appear. They are abundant and in the most apical portions of the branches, which allows us to recognize some symbols of the Passion of Christ from which the vulgar name of "Passion Flower" with which this plant is also remembered. If fertilized, usually easily, they are followed by ovoid fruits with a purplish skin, with a very fragrant gelatinous pulp rich in minute dark seeds, which, also known as "passion fruits", are often used in pastry or in the preparation of fruit juices and ice cream.

It prefers a sunny and bright location, but can also adapt to semi-shaded conditions; it adapts to any type of soil, preferring rich, fertile and well-drained ones. It does not tolerate the salinity typical of sea winds in coastal areas, where it is therefore preferable to choose a sheltered position; it can bear short periods of drought, but constant and periodic summer wetting certainly improves its general appearance and productivity. Withstands minimum winter temperatures only a few degrees below zero, therefore where the cold can be intense and prolonged, it will be necessary to opt for a protected location, or to mulch the foot with straw and dry leaves or to guarantee shelter in a cool and bright environment in winter. In spring at the vegetative restart, it will be necessary to eliminate dry, broken or damaged, old or bulky branches: it may be equally useful to shorten the various stems to allow a more compact growth and stimulate flowering and subsequent fruiting. Ideal for terraces and balconies, in containers and pots of considerable size, as long as they have suitable supports. In the open ground in the garden, we can leave it free to climb trees or shrubs, even better, on pergolas, gazebos, fences or metal nets: it will satisfy not only our sight with its extravagant flowers, but also our palate with its sweetest fruits.