Passion fruit and butterflies

Due to the large number of passion fruit species in Brazil, it is considered one of the main centers of genetic diversity. Different species of passion fruit have great commercial potential, including cultivation as ornamental plants, either as landscaping solutions for large and medium-sized areas such as gardens, fences, walls and pergolas, or as pot plants that are used on balconies or indoors. In view of this great potential, Embrapa and partners have been working on the development of ornamental passion fruit cultivars. The first registered hybrids were BRS Estrela do Cerrado, BRS Rubiflora and BRS Roseflora, with predominantly red flowers. To broaden the spectrum of flower colors, the BRS Rosea Purpura with pink flowers and the BRS Ceu do Cerrado with blue flowers were registered.