Passiflora subpeltata (white passionflower)

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Passiflora spp.

passionflowers

Passifloraceae

Tropical and warm-temperate Americas, with additional species in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 6–11

Overview

Passiflora spp. is a genus of about 550 species of mostly climbing vines in the passionflower family (Passifloraceae), centered in the warm regions of the Americas with further species in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. The vines climb by coiling tendrils to 6 to 30 ft (1.8 to 9 m), depending on species and climate, clinging to fences, trellises, and other plants. Leaves are alternate, often lobed into three to five fingers, and 2 to 6 in (5 to 15 cm) wide. The flowers have an elaborate structure: a flat ring of five petals and five sepals supports a dense fringe of thread-like filaments, the corona, above which stand five stamens and a three-part stigma. Blooms range through blue, purple, white, pink, and red and last a day or two each over a long summer-to-autumn season. Many species set an egg-shaped fruit, and P. edulis is grown commercially for passion fruit. Tropical species are evergreen and frost-tender, while P. incarnata, the native North American maypop, dies to the ground and returns from the root in USDA zone 6. The leaves and unripe fruit of many species contain cyanogenic compounds that can sicken pets.

Native Range

Passiflora spp. is native to the tropical and warm-temperate Americas, from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and into South America, where the genus is richest. A smaller number of species are native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and Pacific islands.

Suggested Uses

Passiflora spp. is grown on trellises, arbors, fences, and pergolas as a fast climbing screen, and in containers with support in cold regions where it overwinters indoors. P. edulis and related species are grown for their edible fruit, while P. incarnata is planted in native and pollinator gardens as a larval host for fritillary butterflies. The vines cover bare structures within a season at 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) spacing.

How to Identify

Identify Passiflora spp. by its climbing stems with coiling tendrils and its alternate, often three- to five-lobed leaves. The flowers are unmistakable, with a flat ring of petals and sepals topped by a fringe of thread-like corona filaments and a central column carrying five stamens and a three-branched stigma. Many species follow the flowers with a rounded to egg-shaped berry that ripens yellow, purple, or orange.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 30'

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowers open from early summer into autumn, roughly June to October in temperate zones and nearly year-round in the tropics. Each bloom lasts only a day or two, but plants flower in succession over many weeks. The flowers draw bees, especially large carpenter bees, and the red-flowered species also attract hummingbirds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

blue, purple, white, pink, or red with a filamentous corona

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Time to Maturity

1-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Passiflora spp. grows in full sun to light shade in moist, well-drained soil at a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5, with a sturdy trellis or fence for the tendrils to climb. The vines grow quickly and flower most freely in warm conditions with steady moisture and occasional feeding. Tropical species need a frost-free climate of USDA zones 9 to 11, while P. incarnata is hardy to about zone 6 and resprouts from the root each spring. Hard pruning in early spring controls the vigorous growth and keeps the vines within their support. Many species sucker from the roots and can spread well beyond the original planting. Caterpillars of fritillary butterflies feed on the leaves, and the foliage and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic compounds that can sicken pets and people if eaten.

Pruning

Prune Passiflora spp. in early spring before new growth begins, cutting back the previous year's stems to keep the vine within its support and to spur fresh flowering shoots. Thin tangled or crowded growth through the season, and cut frost-killed top growth of P. incarnata to the ground in late winter. Root suckers can be removed to limit spread.

Pruning Schedule

early spring