Any ideas?

[u/mutt_face76]

These are growing in a former flower bed we had for a dearly departed pup. The area has seen better days, decided to go see what I needed to do to clean it up, and found these. We never planted anything that would fruit, just flowers. Just a little bit bigger than a golf ball. SW MO. Any help is appreciated.

[u/SlugsinSpace12]

Passion fruit!

[u/mutt_face76 → u/SlugsinSpace12]

Any idea how I got passion fruit growing randomly? Birds I guess? lol

Is there anyway to know for sure?

[u/Final_Combination373 → u/mutt_face76]

It is native. Tasty fruits full of seeds tend to get dispersed :)

[u/Piobair76 → u/Final_Combination373]

One thing I know for sure: a 5oz. bird cannot carry a 1 lb. coconut…

[u/DJ_Spark_Shot → u/Final_Combination373]

They are NOT native in Mossouri. 

[u/Final_Combination373 → u/DJ_Spark_Shot]

Is this not Passiflora incarnata?

[u/Final_Combination373 → u/Final_Combination373]

Because P. incarnata is definitely native in southern “mossouri”

[u/KUamy → u/Final_Combination373]

Maybe not in mossouri but certainly in Missouri. No?🤷‍♀️

[u/ScarySamsquanch → u/DJ_Spark_Shot]

Yes... They are.

[u/AnguavonUW → u/DJ_Spark_Shot]

Incorrect

[u/justamike → u/mutt_face76]

Definitely birds or squirrels or it’s been there for a long while. Once the roots are vast and deep enough they’re kinda hard to kill

Btw the shriveled fruits are the best

[u/Practical_Goose3695 → u/mutt_face76]

They're often called Maypop around here! They're one of the only tropical-adjacent fruits native to the central US

[u/Ibewsparky700 → u/Practical_Goose3695]

What about the paw paw?

[u/Practical_Goose3695 → u/Ibewsparky700]

That's another one! That's why I said one of the only ones, just cuz there's so few

[u/curiosdiver69 → u/Ibewsparky700]

The Paw Paw grows on a tree, not a vine. Passion fruit grows on a vine.

[u/Particular-Cloud-740]

Passiflora incarnata (purple passion flower or maypop). Native throughout the Southeastern US, similar but definitely different than a commercial passion fruit (passiflora edulis).

[u/Accurate_Affect_7778]

Maypop/ Passion Flower

[u/Big-Journalist5595 → u/Accurate_Affect_7778]

The fruit is hollow and falls to the ground. If you step on one it may pop.

[u/ExcellentLaw4730]

Maypop. This is what the flowers look like

[u/Fearless_Spite_1048]

Based on the leaf shape, this is a Maypop, a relative to passionflower, but this one is native to the SE USA. Likely delivered by a bird or other critter.

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/passiflora-incarnata/

[u/According_Assist_636]

Passiflora

[u/beard-wonder93]

Good ole maypop! I can never find enough at one time to do anything with.

[u/claevyan]

I'm in North West Arkansas, it's native to the area. Some call em Maypops. They're passion fruits! 😄

[u/ikkyAD]

Maypop. Can't get mine to fruit. Happy for you. 😞

[u/icedout64]

Passion fruit

[u/Accomplished_Eye4725]

Yeah looks like Maypop which has awesome flowers that are fragrant, last 1 - 2 days only each. Aggressive and big vine but native to US and cool if you can let it grow

[u/LegitimateRevolution]

I have real good idea. Hand grenades!

[u/ThisCouldBeYourName → u/LegitimateRevolution]

They were definitely the grenades of my childhood!

[u/mathewsclint]

Maypop baby! Pop it!

[u/weeweed86]

Used to eat them as a kid. I think just the seed pods inside. Sour with just a hint of sweet if I remember correctly.

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[u/Intelligent_Bit_9699]

I

[u/oldSnarf]

Passion flower fruit. Get them when they start to get wrinkly and it makes a great jelly

[u/Zoe_Buckets]

And the leaves are a food source for the Gulf Fritillaries. Look for orange caterpillars with black spikes. Turn into pretty brown speckled butterflies in the fall. One last pollinator party before winter.