Australian Climbing Fruit Plants
- Four species of passion vines are native to Australia.passion flower image by Tracy Horning from Fotolia.com
The continent of Australia is home to over 20,000 species of plants, including many fruiting varieties. Originating in the tropical north of the country, Australia's native climbing fruit plants are now widely grown in cultivation. Non-native varieties are found around the continent, as well, and include invasive species and some that are integral to Australia's agricultural economy. - Passion vine (Passiflora) is a genus of flowering vines found in frost-free areas around the world. Many are fruit-bearing, including four native Australian varieties and one commercially cultivated introduced species. Native to South America, purple passion vine (P. edulis) is the most widely grown species in Australia. It is an important commercial crop, bearing small, fragrant fruit with a juicy, seed-filled interior. Several cultivars of purple passion vine have been developed in Australia, most notably a variety called "Golden Giant." Four native varieties of passion vine grow in the tropical north of Australia, including red passion vine (P. herbertiana) and orange passion vine (P. aurantia), which are sometimes grown for their flowers.
- Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is a woody fruiting vine grown on a large scale for the domestic market in Australia. Native to China, kiwi was introduced to Australia in the early 20th century. Known for its furry, dull-brown fruit and fragrant, cherry blossom-like flowers, it is an attractive plant that is often grown by gardeners as an ornamental. Because it requires summer heat and moderate winters, kiwifruit is grown mainly in Victoria and New South Wales, although it thrives in certain microclimates around the continent.
- Perhaps the most common climbing fruit plant in Australia, the Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) is an invasive species first introduced to the country in the early 1800s. It is a perennial species with biennial stems, meaning it produces new branches each year. The palmate leaves and young stems are spiny, producing a dense, rambling mass. It appears unkempt in the wild, but Armenian blackberry can easily be trained to climb a trellis or wall under cultivation. Although referred to as a berry, the fruit is actually an aggregate of drupelets, or tiny fruit. Large and sweet, the fruit is useful and widely collected even though the plant is considered a nuisance.
- Australia has become famous around the world for its wine. Imported from Europe, grape vines (Vitis vinifera) were brought with early colonists in the late 18th century. Grapes are grown mainly in the southern states of Australia, although small-scale vineyards are found in other parts of the country. The climate and soil of Australia are very hospitable to all grape varieties and local vintners have developed many cultivars, such as Tarrango and Cienna. Used mainly for wine production, Australian cultivars are now grown around the world.
