Alternative Name(s): Banana poka, Pink banana passionfruit Family: Passifloraceae Form: Vine Origin: Native to tropical South America Weed Type(s): Weed, Quarantine Weed, Noxious Weed, Naturalised, Garden Escape, Environmental Weed

Notes: Banana passionfruit is a vigorous evergreen climber which grows up to 20m scrambling over buildings, fences and smothering other vegetation. Leaves are alternate, three lobed and dark green. Spiral tendrils emerge from the leaf axils.

The drooping pink flowers are borne singly. Fruit is an oblong berry initially green but ripening to yellow containing sweet pulp and up to 200 seeds.

Banana passionfruit spreads vegetatively and by seed dispersed by birds, pigs and foxes which have eaten the fruit. It is naturalised and becoming an increasing problem near Melbourne and Sydney where it invades sheltered damp areas in bushland and forest. It is widely available in nurseries and markets.

References:

Randall, R. P. (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. R. G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
Csurhes, S. and Edwards, R. (1998). Potential Environmental Weeds in Australia. National Weeds Program, Environment Australia, Canberra.
Blood, K. (2001). Environmental Weeds. A Field Guide for S E Australia, C. H. Jerram & Associates-Science Publishers, Mt Waverley, Victoria.