Banana passionfruit (Passiflora tarminiana )

Banana passionfruit is a woody climber with pink flowers and yellow fruit. It smothers other plants and kills them.

Biosecurity duty

This plant should not be sold in parts of NSW

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How does this weed affect you?

Banana passionfruit can smother the ground and climb over other plants and trees high up into the canopy. Vines can live for 15 to 20 years and they:

smother and kill native plants including ground covers and tall trees
reduce food and habitat for native animals
can form dense infestations that restrict movement for animals
smother and outcompete garden plants.

What does it look like?

Banana passionfruit is a woody, perennial vine that can grow up to 20 m high. Coiled tendrils grow from where the leaf stalk joins the stems and these help the vine attach to other plants.

Leaves are:

light to dark green, often glossy on top
5-10 cm long and 8-16 cm wide
divided into 3 deep lobes, each with a pointed tip
toothed along the edges
velvety hairy on the underside
sometimes hairy on the top side of the leaf, especially on the veins
on hairy stalks 2-4 cm long
alternate along the stem.

Flowers:

have a long green tube at the base (up to 10 cm long and 1 cm in diameter)
have 5 pink petals and 5 pink or white sepals (which look very similar to the petals)
are up to 6 cm wide across the petals
hang downwards from the stem
are different to other passionfruit species flowers as they lack the ring of fine threads that radiate from the centre of the flowers
are present most of the year in warm areas (late summer to early winter in cooler temperate areas).

Fruit are:

yellow to pale orange when ripe
round and elongated, widest in the middle and tapered at both ends
up to 12 cm long and 3 cm wide
full of orange pulp and seeds

Seeds are:

dark brown to black
6-8 mm long
round and covered in pits.

Stems are:

hairy and green when young
woody and rope-like when older.

Similar looking plants:

Banana passionfruit looks similar to:

Edible passionfruit (Passiflora edulis), which are hairless plants with oval yellow or black fruit and white and purple flowers.
Other passionfruit species including natives, but none of these have toothed edges on their leaves.

Where is it found?

In NSW, banana passionfruit has naturalised in the Hunter, Greater Sydney and South East regions. There are also a few plants on the mid-north coast. It has also naturalised in parts of Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Banana passionfruit is native to South America.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Banana passionfruit grows in tropical, subtropical and temperate climates and can tolerate occasional light frosts. Plants usually grow in areas with over 800 mm of rainfall per year and grow best in fertile, moist soils. Although banana passionfruit tolerates some shade it grows best in full sun. Seedlings do not grow well in shade.

Banana passionfruit grows:

in open forests and forest edges
in woodlands
along waterways
in disturbed areas such as roadsides.

Maps and records

Recorded presence of Banana passionfruit during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2024)
These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.

How does it spread?

Banana passionfruit has been spread by people planting it as a fruit and ornamental vine. It is sometimes sold using the scientific name: Passiflora mollissima

By seed

Fruit production starts in just one year and each fruit produces up to 180 seeds. Seeds can remain viable for at least 18 months in the soil. Birds and other animals including foxes and possums eat the fruit and spread the seed through their dropping. Seeds may also be spread by water.

By plant parts

Stems sometimes root at the nodes. Plant parts could be spread by people dumping garden waste.

References

Harden, G. J., McDonald, W. J. F., & Williams, J. B. (2007). Rainforest climbing plants. Gwen Harden Publishing.

Muyt, A. (2001). Bush invaders of South-East Australia: a guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. RG and FJ Richardson.

James, T., Popay, I., Champion, P. D., Grbavac, N., & Rhode, B. (2012). An illustrated guide to weed seeds of New Zealand. New Zealand Plant Protection Society.

Popay, I. (2012). CABI datasheet: Passiflora tarminiana (banana passionfruit) Retrieved 12 April 2023 from: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.119428

Richardson, F. J., Richardson, R. G., & Shepherd, R. C. H. (2011). Weeds of the south-east: an identification guide for Australia (No. Ed. 3). CSIRO.

Williams, P. A., Karl, B. J., Bannister, P., & Lee, W. G. (2000). Small mammals as potential seed dispersers in New Zealand. Austral Ecology, 25(5), 523-532.

More information

Control

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

Prevention

Do not plant banana passionfruit. Remove cultivated plants and dispose of plants appropriately. Contact your local council for disposal methods.

Early detection

Learn to identify banana passionfruit and remove plants early to reduce the chance of spread.

Slashing and mulching

Stems can be mown, or whipper-snipped regularly. This will suppress growth but not kill the plants in the short term. Cutting stems down over many years may eventually kill the plants.

Physical removal

Small plants can be hand pulled or dug out. Make sure all roots are removed. This can be done year-round but will be easiest when the soil is damp. Do not leave stems in contact with soil as they can sprout roots and regrow.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Ensure that all of the foliage is covered with the herbicide mix.

Basal barking

Apply herbicide mixed with diesel or biodiesel to cover the lower stem, all the way around the plant.

Splatter gun

Splatter guns can be used for dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach. The specialised nozzle produces large droplets that allow plants up to 10 m away to be sprayed with limited chance of spray drift. Spray small amounts of concentrated herbicide onto the weeds. It is not necessary to cover all the foliage.

Cut scrape and paint

Cut the stems about 40 cm from the ground. Lightly scrape the stem and paint the exposed area with concentrated herbicide within 15 seconds. Do not ringbark the stem.

Weed wipers

Use wipers or wands to apply the herbicide mix to the leaves. This method ensures that desirable plants are not treated with herbicide.

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 35 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark: Spray or paint the herbicide mix around the base of each stem from ground level up to at least 30 cm from the ground, wetting the bark to the point of runoff. Apply to dry bark. Old rough bark will require more spray than smooth or young thin bark.
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 21 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark: Spray or paint the herbicide mix around the base of each stem from ground level up to at least 30 cm from the ground, wetting the bark to the point of runoff. Only apply to dry bark. Old rough bark will require more spray than smooth or young thin bark.
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut, scrape and paint
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
North Coast	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Note: This plant is sometimes named Passiflora mollissima
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2024

Banana passionfruit flowers hang downwards. (Photo: Richard Boon https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

Banana passionfruit flowers have 5 pink petals and 5 similar looking pink (or white) sepals. (Photo: Istock image)

Banana passionfruit smothering vegetation along a roadside. (Photo: Ian Clarke https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

Banana passionfruit leaves have 3 lobes and toothed edges. (Photo: Wendy Gibney NSW DPI)

Banana passionfruit flowers have a long green tube above the petals and sepals. (Photo: Richard Boon https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)