Family: Passifloraceae
Common Name: Passion flower

There are around 500 species of these showy tendril climbers, including the familiar passionfruit, primarily from the tropical Americas. The flower of Passiflora was viewed by the Spanish missionaries who accompanied the conquistadores to South America as a symbolic representation of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus. The ten petals represented the ten apostles, the five stamens and five sepals were seen as the five wounds of Christ, and the blue to purple corona recalled the crown of thorns. The flowers come in a range of colours, including pink, white, blue, purple and scarlet, depending on the species. Many are grown for their brilliant, showy blossoms, while some species, such as P. edulis (passionfruit), P. laurifolia and P. quadrangularis, are cultivated for their delicious fruit. In frost-prone climates, most species need to be grown in an intermediate to warm greenhouse or conservatory.

Species

P. x alatocaerulea, zone 9, used in per-fume, has white and pink to purple flowers.

P. x allardii, zone 9, produces flowers with pale pink petals and a deep blue corona.

P. antioquiensis, banana passionfruit, zone 9, is a vigorous species, with bright red flowers. Cultivated banana passionfruit is more often Passiflora mollissima, zone 8.

P. cinnabarina, red passion flower, zone 10, produces flowers with scarlet petals and sepals and a yellow corona, in spring.

P. coccinea, red or scarlet flowering passionfruit, zone 10, is a vigorous plant with bright scarlet flowers, borne over a long period from midsummer into autumn.

P. mixta, zone 10, has pink to orange-red sepals and petals and a lavender to purple corona.

P. racemosa, zone 10, bears crimson flowers with a purple corona, banded in red or white.

P. vitifolia, zone 10, produces small, scarlet flowers with a red to bright yellow corona and delicious-smelling, ovoid, yellow-green fruit.

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in a soil border, or in a large pot or tub of soil-based potting compost. Give maximum light, but shade from direct strong sun. Outdoors, plant in well-drained, yet moisture-retentive soil. Plants will thrive in full sun or partial shade but need protection from cold winds. Plants can be pruned in early spring by cutting back all side shoots to within three or four buds of the main stems. Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in summer, rooted with bottom heat, or by layering in spring.

Climate

There are species suited to various climatic zones.