Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa seeds, Passionflower

Seeds of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa

Passiflora edulis flavicarpa , more commonly known as Passion fruit, is a plant that grows in tropical countries like Hawaii, where it is called "Lilikoi". You can find it mostly in South America but also in some Islands like Madeira and Azores, in Portugal. The plant is small and has a very exotic looking. It has a white and purple sort of crown, with green stems coming out of the middle. Its small fruit, also called passion fruit, of purplish colour on the outside, usually looking kind of wrinkled, and yellow on the inside with dark pits. The pits are generally eaten too. There is more than one kind of passion fruit out there, but in the supermarkets there are only 1 or 2 varieties available, depending on the country. It is used for cooking, in desserts such as passion fruit mousse, or in  cocktails such as "poncha", a sweet drink made of passion fruit juice, honey and rum that is very common in the Island of Madeira. It can also be used for other liquors, sodas, juice, or simply to be eaten in a fruit salad. It can even be eaten with a spoon. Passion fruit is very high in nutrients. It is rich in Calcium and Iron. Being a natural antioxidant, it is used by patients with vitamin C deficiency.

Apart from C, passion fruit is also rich in vitamins A, B2, B6, among others. It is a great aid in various medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, eye problems, respiratory diseases such as asthma, digestive tract issues and sleeping problems, just to name a few. Recent studies found new passion fruit benefits for asthma and cancer treatments. Being low in calories and cholesterol, passion fruit is a very welcomed addition to any diet plan, most valuable for people undergoing weight loss programs, due to its properties that help to burn fat quicker. It is also a great snack for athletes on the way home from the gym, by keeping the nutrients and the good carb. levels up before getting home.There seems to be no end to the benefits of this beautiful plant and its fruit Passion fruit is usually available all year around since it can be found in different places and then exported wherever it is needed. Whether one needs it or not, the information above shows that passion fruit should be more often on everyone's  table.    

Put seeds about 1cm deep into moist seeding soil and keep at about 20 - 28°C. Germination will start within about a week