Description

General aspect and origins - Passiflora tarminiana is also known as banana passionflower, banana poka, curuba india or curuba equatoriana. It is a vigorous vine with trilobed leaves, which is native to the Andes, at elevations between 6500 ft and 11500 ft (about between 2000 m and 3500 m). It has spread to many subtropical and tropical regions, including Hawaii, New Zealand, some regions in South Africa, Sri Lanka, Philippines...
Leaves - The banana passionflower has trilobed leaves which are glabrous on top, and softly pubescent on the underside.
Flowers - Flowers of the banana poka are pendent, with pink sepals and petals. This passionflower is not scented, but is self-fertile. The peduncle is 1 to 4 in (2.5 to 10 cm) long.
Fruits - The banana passionfruit is edible, fusiform and is 2.5 to 5.5 in (10 to 14 cm) long, and about 1.5 in (4 cm) wide. Its skin is green with white dots, and turns yellow to yellow-orange when ripe. Its pulp is orange and contains numerous black seeds. The fruits of Passiflora tarminiana are very close to the ones of Passiflora tripartita var. mollissima, which is also known as Passiflora mollissima.

Culture

Passiflora tarminiana was recently discovered by Coppens et Barney in 2000, but this vine was known for long under the name banana poka in Hawai. It is very similar to Passiflora tripartita var. mollissima syn. Passiflora mollissima, with slight differences such as the absence of pubescence on top of the leaves for Passiflora tarminiana, or the fully reflexed corolla (while the corolla of Passiflora mollissima is campanulate)
Also, Passiflora tarminiana is said to be a little more frost and disease resistant. It will resist temperatures such as 26°F and even 25°F (-3°C to -4°C) and may be grown is USDA zones 9b and warmer.
Soil - The banana passionflower, like most Passiflora, prefers a well-drained ground.

Propagation

The banana poka is easily propagated by seeds or by cuttings.

Pests and diseases

Like most Passiflora, the banana poka is susceptible to various viral diseases and nematodes.