Forum home› Plants

Passiflora Constance elliot.. Fruits.

dpatel2130dpatel2130 Posts: 198
in Plants
I bought this plant nearly three years ago from B&M and it was labelled as Passiflora  and flower in picture showed red. This year it flowered first time and white flowers instead of red, bit disappointed but I noticed today the plant bearing many fruits still green. If it is Passiflora Constance elliot, are fruits edible? Thank you in advance. 

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,050
    @dpatel2130 I believe them to be inedible and very bitter.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS.
    Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
    James Alexander Sinclair 
  • dpatel2130dpatel2130 Posts: 198
    @GardenerSuze, Thank you. Well, will enjoy flowers but not fruits.  :)
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,399
    @dpatel2130 The flowers look like P constance elliot and if so the fruit is inedible.

    P edulis ( the ones you would buy to eat ) have smaller flowers with more purple in them.  Nothing like as flamboyant as other P's.  Mine are still green at the moment but they usually ripen to the dark purple/black by November.
    As you say, just enjoy the flowers  :)
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,050
    I definitely would not eat them, the flowers more than make up for it. You don't very often see the white form something special, enjoy. Not sure but the fruits may turn orange?
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS.
    Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
    James Alexander Sinclair 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,253
    Don’t eat them 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,050
    @dpatel2130 Ingestion may cause severe discomfort is a quote on line. The more common one has orange fruit but purple black sounds more dramatic.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS.
    Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
    James Alexander Sinclair 
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,399
    Just for clarification ........ the purple/black fruit I referred to are from the edible P edulis and NOT from any other Passiflora. 
    As with any plant/fruit/fungi that you are unsure of, you don't attempt to eat.

    If you want to grow for the edible fruit, buy a fruit from the SM, sow the seeds in Jan/Feb in a heated propagator and once germinated, keep potting on until large enough to either plant in the GH - either direct in the border or in a large container.  Treated right, you can look forward to harvesting the fruit in late October/early November  the following year- ie 18 months or so from germination altho obviously that will depend on your location/climate.
    The flowers aren't particularly large or spectacular and often need pollinating by hand but if you like the fruit, it can be worth the effort.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,050
    Oh thankyou @philippasmith2 I had no idea there was an edible form until I read your post.
    RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS.
    Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
    James Alexander Sinclair 
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,593
    edited August 2022
    That is just gorgeous.
    Appears to be correctly/accurately  named.
    Apparently It is edible but not very tasty.

    https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/passiflora-caerulea-constance-eliott/classid.1698/

    RHS states...."Potentially harmful
    Ingestion may cause severe discomfort. Wear gloves and wash hands after handling"

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/305875/passiflora-caerulea-constance-eliott/details
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
Sign In or Register to comment.