Family: Passifloraceae

Origin, Description & Uses

Passiflora ligularis, commonly known as sweet granadilla, is a fast-growing tropical vine native to Panama, Venezuela, Peru, and other parts of northern South America. This attractive climbing plant is known for its large, fragrant flowers, curling tendrils, and round orange-yellow fruits filled with sweet edible pulp. Sweet granadilla is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions for its flavorful fruit and is sometimes grown as an ornamental vine on fences, trellises, and arbors. In Hawaiʻi, it has become naturalized on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island, where it occurs in mesic and wet forests from approximately 200–1,070 m elevation.

Risks & Threats

Sweet granadilla is naturalized in Hawaiʻi and possesses several traits that are cause for concern in tropical island ecosystems. This vigorous vine grows rapidly, tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions, and can spread by seed as well as vegetatively where stems contact the ground. Birds, mammals, and people can disperse the seeds into natural areas, allowing the plant to invade forests and disturbed habitats. Like other invasive Passiflora species, it can climb over and smother surrounding vegetation, potentially displacing native plants and altering forest structure. Because it is shade tolerant and capable of thriving in wetter native ecosystems, it could continue spreading into sensitive habitats. Due to these risks, choosing a low risk or native alternative is recommended when suitable alternatives are available.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui, Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands), and elsewhere
  
• Potential agricultural weed
  
• Environmental weed in Hawaii
  
• Other Passiflora species are invasive
  
• May be cyanogenic, and may therefore be poisonous or unpalatable to livestock
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Climbs on and smothers other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rooting where its stems touch the ground
  
• Reaches maturity in <1 year
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds, frugivorous mammals, and intentionally by people

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Edible fruit
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control