Passiflora sp.

Passion Flower
Family: Passifloraceae
USDA Zone: 8-11?

Plant attracts butterflies, hummingbirds

Passiflora is one of the most impressive, fast growing and easiest tropical vines. If you need to cover a fence, this plant will do it in no time. The ability of these plants to cope with conditions far from their optimum is extraordinary. Passiflora has one of the most beautiful flowers. Hundreds of new hybrids present a wide range of color and flower shape. The complex flower symbolizes the Passion of Christ. Passiflora is a very popular indoor plant due to its ability to withstand a wide range of conditions, it will take both sun and shade, and some drought. Most passion flowers, whether young seedlings or mature adult plants, will benefit from supplementary lighting if indoors over the winter months. If light levels are low, heating the soil is more important than the air. Water sparingly from below and put a thin layer of sand over the soil. Don't fertilize and use free-draining soil to avoid root rot. New hybrids must be grown from seed of the parental cross, which will be more variable than species seed, possibly with the plant taking more characteristics of the female flower and the male foliage. The best seedlings of hybrids can be named and then cuttings taken to perpetuate them. If you grow a plant from hybrid seed it may flower within a few months.

Species and varieties:

Passiflora alata

Passiflora Amethyst

Passiflora Blue Velvet

Passiflora caerulea

Passiflora cincinnata

Passiflora citrina

Passiflora coccinea

Passiflora colinvauxii

Passiflora coriacea

Passiflora edulis

Passiflora eichleriana