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Passion flowers (Passiflora) have deeply lobed leaves which are followed a month or so later by a proliferation of showy, creamy-white flowers with purple-blue zoned coronas. Towards the end of the summer the passion flower will produce its golden, egg-shaped fruits.
Passion flowers always bring a touch of the exotic into the garden. But you don't need tropical conditions to grow the in the UK. There are species that can easily be grown in our weather conditions, and others than can be grown successfully indoors.
Although they are cited as evergreen in all but the coldest regions, they generally suffer some cold damage and look best in the summer/spring when the new growth is visible. Therefore it is best to position your passionflower in a sheltered position in full sun or dappled shade such as south or south west facing area. In colder areas passion flowers can be grown successfully in a greenhouse or conservatory. Passionflowers are woody climbers and will grow to 2-10 m in height and spread.
Passion flowers will thrive in any soil type that is moist, but prefer moderately fertile, well-drained soils. Plant out your passion flowers in the spring or autumn.
Water passion flowers freely during the growing season to ensure that they don’t dry out. Water them more sparingly during the winter, allowing the compost surface of container grown specimens to begin to dry out between watering. Top dress plants with a general fertiliser in the spring.
Passion flower can also be grown successfully in a container. However if growing indoors in a south facing conservatory or windowsill you will need to protect the leaves from scorch by shading.
Although passion flowers are self climbing they benefit from fan training. Carry out pruning just after flowering by shortening flowered tips and side shoots to a couple of buds from the main fan framework.
Passion flower can propagated through layering in spring, from softwood cuttings in spring or from semi-ripe cuttings in the summer.Species plants (but not named cultivars) will come true from seed.You may choose to grow your species passion flowers from seed, although named cultivars will not come true from seed. Use either John Innes No 3 potting compost, or good quality multipurpose or peat-free compost.
Outdoor species
Passiflora incarnata
Passiflora caerulea
Passiflora lutea
Conservatory species
Passiflora mollissima
Passiflora × exoniensis
Passiflora antioquiensis
Passiflora x alatocaerulea
Passiflora × allardii
Passiflora × caeruleoracemosa
Passiflora manicata
Passiflora alata
For related articles click onto:
How to grow passionflower
How to grow passionflower from seed
Passiflora incarnata
Passiflora caerulea
Passiflora lutea
Conservatory species
Passiflora mollissima
Passiflora × exoniensis
Passiflora antioquiensis
Passiflora x alatocaerulea
Passiflora × allardii
Passiflora × caeruleoracemosa
Passiflora manicata
Passiflora alata
For related articles click onto:
How to grow passionflower
How to grow passionflower from seed
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