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Plant Informational Database

Sweet Calabash

Passiflora maliformis

a.k.a. Sweet Cup, Conch Apple

Smallish (2") passion fruit with yellow skin and a grayed yellow-orange pulp that is aromatically scented and flavored.

Seed Availability

Seeds are now available at our seed store.

Description

Fast-growing vine, grows best in somewhat cooler than tropical climates. The rind is particularly hard, and tougher than most passion fruits.

Hardiness

N/A

Growing Environment

N/A

Propagation

Usually grown by seeds.

Germination Info

It is recommended to pretreat Passiflora seeds before planting. They contain a hard seed coat and are very slow to sprout. There are various pretreatment methods, but the simplest is to soak the seeds for 24-48 hours in warm to the touch water, just prior to planting. Optionally, seeds can be lightly scarified with sand paper to provide some permeation on the seed coat.

Once pretreated, plant seeds 1/2-1" deep in moist, sterile soil. Keep soil temperature consistent at 70-85F, with some day/variation in this range. Cool soils will significantly delay seed germination time if not inhibit germination altogether. Standard room temperature can be too cool for proper germination.

Estimated germination time under optimal conditions: 4 weeks to 6 months.

Uses

Usually eaten fresh or used to flavor drinks.

Native Range

Native to the Caribbean, Central America and Northern South America.

Related Species

Passifloraceae  
Passiflora actinia
Passiflora actinia
Passiflora alata
Fragrant Granadilla
Passiflora biflora
Two-Flowered Passion Flower
Passiflora caerulea
Blue Passion Flower
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Red Granadilla
Passiflora colinvauxii
Passiflora colinvauxii
Passiflora coriacea
Bat-Leaved Passion Flower
Passiflora edulis
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Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa
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Passiflora foetida
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Passiflora gibertii
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Passiflora gilbertiana
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Passiflora helleri
Passiflora helleri
Passiflora herbertiana
Native Passion Fruit
Passiflora incarnata
Maypop
Passiflora incarnata x cinnicata
Passiflora 'Incense'
Passiflora laurifolia
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Passiflora ligularis
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Passiflora loefgrenii
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Tree Passion Flower
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Sweet Calabash
Passiflora mollissima
Banana Passion Fruit
Passiflora morifolia
Woodland Passion Flower
Passiflora nitida
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Passiflora pallens
Pineland Passion Flower
Passiflora parritae
Passiflora parritae
Passiflora parritae x antioquiensis
Passiflora parritae x antioquiensis
Passiflora popenovii
Quijos Granadilla
Passiflora quadrangularis
Giant Granadilla
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Sururuca
Passiflora sidaefolia
Passiflora sidaefolia
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Passiflora trifasciata
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