Today, about 400 years later, passion fruit is grown nearly everywhere in the tropical belt but known by a variety of different names.
Its common name is Maracuya in Peru , Ecuador and Brazil , Parcha in Venezuela , Lilikoi in Hawaii , and Chinola or Parchita in Puerto Rico.

Today, South America , is the main exporter of passion fruit concentrate to the Western World.

The passion fruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support. It can grow 15 to 20 ft. per year once established and must have strong support. It is generally short-lived (5 to 7 years).

The purple passion fruit is subtropical and prefers a frost-free climate. However, there are cultivars that can take temperatures into the upper 20's (°F) without serious damage.

The nearly round or ovoid fruit, 1-1/2 to 3 inches wide, has a tough rind that is smooth and waxy and ranging in hue from dark purple with faint, fine white specks, to light yellow or pumpkin- color . Within, is a cavity more or less filled with an aromatic mass of double walled, membranous sacs containing orange- colored , pulpy juice and as many as 250 small, hard, dark brown or black, pitted seeds. The unique flavor is appealing, musky, guava-like and sweet/tart to tart.

Fresh Passion Fruit is known to be high in vitamin A and Potassium. The Yellow variety is used for juice processing, while the Purple variety is sold in fresh fruit markets.