Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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climbing plant fruit

If you’re searching for climbing plant fruit to grow in your New Zealand garden, you’re in for a treat. Climbing fruiting plants add vertical dimension to your landscape while producing delicious harvests – all with a minimal footprint. Ideal for walls, fences, pergolas or trellises, these plants are as ornamental as they are fruitful, offering vibrant blossoms, lush foliage, and enticing edible crops. Whether you're interested in subtropical flavours or classic vineyard favourites, there’s a climbing plant fruit to suit every home garden. Below, explore popular varieties, growing tips, and inspiration for creating your own fruitful vertical oasis.

Ripe Passion Fruit with yellow pulp and a purple skin.

Passiflora edulis

Passiflora edulis, commonly known as Passion Fruit, is a vigorous climbing vine admired for its exotic flowers and delicious fruit. In NZ gardens, it is widely grown for its round purple fruit, filled with sweet tangy pulp that is perfect for eating fresh or using in desserts and drinks.

Buy Passiflora edulis

From $26.15

Suited to regions: Subtropical

Plant type: Subtropical Fruit

Height: 4.00 m

Spread: 4.00 m

Flowering time: Spring

Garden uses: Arches, Living areas, Patios, Pool areas, Screening

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical

Selenicereus undatus

Selenicereus undatus (White Dragon Fruit) is a highly rewarding climbing cactus grown for its large, sweet, white fleshed fruit and impressive tropical appearance. This fast growing variety thrives in warm parts of New Zealand, producing spectacular night blooming flowers followed by delicious fruit.

Buy Selenicereus undatus

From $39.95

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Subtropical Fruit

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Garden uses: Living areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Tropical

Popular Climbing Plant Fruit Varieties

Some of the most prized climbing plants for fruit in New Zealand include:

Passiflora edulis (Passionfruit)

One of the best-known climbing plant fruit options, Passiflora edulis is celebrated for its stunning flowers and sweet, tangy fruit. The passionfruit vine quickly covers trellises and produces an abundance of purple-skinned fruit, perfect for desserts, drinks, or fresh eating. The lush foliage and intricate blooms add tropical flair to any garden space.

Selenicereus undatus (Dragon Fruit)

For an exotic touch, consider Selenicereus undatus. Also known as dragon fruit or pitaya, this cactus vine climbs with ease and boasts breathtaking night-blooming flowers. The striking pink fruit is rich in antioxidants, with a mild, sweet flavour. Dragon fruit grows well in frost-free areas and adds a unique architectural element to any garden.

Grape 'Kyoho' (Table Grape)

Few climbing plants can match the productivity and beauty of grapevines. Grape 'Kyoho' is a standout variety, producing large, juicy purple grapes adored in salads and homemade juices. Grapevines are vigorous climbers, perfect for training along fences or pergolas, where they create shady retreats and provide a harvest each year.

Growing Climbing Plant Fruit: Tips for Success

When growing climbing plant fruit, start by choosing a sunny, well-drained location. Most fruiting climbers prefer fertile, moisture-retentive soil and regular feeding during the growing season. Prune for shape and airflow, and provide sturdy support structures to encourage strong growth.

Mulching around the base can help retain moisture and suppress weeds, and training vines early ensures they grow in the desired direction. Protect young plants from frost, and monitor for pests like snails and aphids.

Combining Fruiting and Ornamental Climbers

You can complement your climbing plant fruit garden with non-fruiting climbers for added colour and interest. For instance, Rosa 'Iceberg' Climbing offers classic white blooms along fences or arches, while Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' (Hot Poker Plant) supplies striking flower spikes beneath your vines. Mixing edibles with ornamental climbers creates a diverse, visually appealing landscape.

Create Your Vertical Fruit Garden

Climbing plant fruit allows you to maximise space and bring beauty, fragrance, and flavour to your outdoor area. Explore our range of climbing fruit plants to find varieties perfect for your climate and taste. With a little care and the right plant choices, your garden can become a fruitful haven filled with lush vines and seasonal harvests.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

climbing plant fruit

Passiflora edulis

Selenicereus undatus

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