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Growing passionfruit is popular in Australia, promising a bountiful harvest under the right conditions. However, knowing the difference between grafted and non-grafted vines is crucial before embarking on your passionfruit journey.
Grafted vs non grafted passionfruit
Grafted passionfruit plants involve the fusion of leaves and stems from one plant onto the roots of another. This technique often enhances resistance to pests, diseases, and varied climates. The huge downside to grafted passionfruit plants is that they are often grafted with roots of the blue passionflower, a weed that, if left unchecked, wreaks havoc in your garden.
A lesson some gardeners have learned the hard way.
In a post on Facebook about the blue passionflower, one person shared: “I didn’t know this and learnt my lesson. It completely took over my garden. Grew up trees. Had to pull up the whole garden bed where it was planted, and still, suckers would pop up here and there.”
Another wrote: “Mine has gone berserk. It cannot control the growth, and it doesn’t bear fruit. Had three fruit from it in 3 years.”
What is blue passionflower?
According to Weed Wise, the blue passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), a hardy perennial vine, is identified as a fast-spreading weed that can smother native vegetation and serves as the rootstock for edible passionfruit plants. It can sprout below the graft or emerge from the rootstock after the grafted plant perishes, producing viable seeds.
What does blue passionflower look like?
Recognising the blue passionflower is important. The fragrant flower’s leaves are five-fingered, dark green and leathery. If you spot anything that looks like this growing on your passionfruit vine, remove it immediately.
It’s important to note the unripe fruit and leaves of the blue passionfruit flower are poisonous.
What to know about growing passionfruit
When buying passionfruit, know exactly what you’re taking home. Be vigilant and check the labels. It should include information about if the plant was grafted and what rootstock was used.
Non-grafted passionfruit plants can still be grown in Australia, provided they are nurtured in optimal conditions – a warm, north-facing garden spot with well-draining soil and protection from the wind.
If you do decide to purchase a grafted passionfruit plant, you’ll need to watch it like a hawk for blue passionfruit flower suckers and remove them as they appear.
Once your grafted passionfruit plant dies, you’ll need to act quickly and get it out of the ground, as the rootstock from the blue passionflower will keep growing., potentially destroying your garden.
Dispose of the grafted plant responsibly by contacting your local council for appropriate disposal methods.
How to control blue passionflower
Prevention and early detection of blue passionflower are key. Learn to identify blue passionflower and remove any suckers that appear asap.
Alternatively, weed wise says you can spray native plants with a herbicide, ensuring all the foliage is covered. You can also try basal barking, where a herbicide mixed with diel covers the lower stem of the plant. Another method of control is to cut the stem 40cm from the ground, scrape the stem and paint it with concentrated herbicide.
Swift and informed action is key to safeguarding your garden against the invasive blue passionflower.
You might also like:
Five tips for enjoying the sweet and tangy flavours of passionfruit
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