Passiflora

( pass - ih - FLOR - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Passion Vine, this genus of eye-catching natives of South America need full sun to partial shade and moderate to regular water. The genus includes evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous vines. The beautiful, interesting flowers attract butterflies. They climb quickly via tendrils to reach 20-30 feet and bloom during warmer months. Many species produce edible fruit. They can be used as climbers or as groundcover and tolerate many soil types. 

Passiflora Species and Varietals

The genus Passiflora is the type genus member of the plant family Passifloraceae and includes around 550 distinct species. The best growing zones for Passion Vine vary depending on the species. For more information, reference the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Passiflora actinia (Sea Anemone Passion Flower)
These evergreen vines are native to Brazil, and are relatively cold-tolerant. They produce flowers in early springtime, and blooms are white, mauve, purple, and blue. Fruits follow flowers, and are edible. They are golden-orange when ripe and about 4 inches long.

Passiflora alata (Winged-Stem Passion Flower, Ouvaca, Fragrant Grenadilla, Maracuja de Refresco)
This species forms an evergreen vine to 20 feet long with green foliage and fragrant flowers that reach 3-4 inches wide when in bloom. They are white, purple, and cream with deep red bracts. Flowers bloom in late summer to early fall. Hardy to 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

Passiflora antioquiensis (Red Banana Passionfruit)
Native to Colombia and named for the Antioquia Department in which it was found, this species forms an evergreen vine. Flowers are deep red, borne on long stems that dangle from branches. Outer petals are sometimes recurved towards the flower's base.

Passiflora arizonica (Arizona Passionflower)
These plants are perennial climbing vines native to the Sonoran Desert in northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona in the United States. It produces quite showy light purple to whitish flowers and typically is seen growing in desert grassland landscapes.

Passiflora x belotii (Passiflora x alatocaerulea, Passiflora pfordtii)
This hybrid is evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on the climate and grows best in zones 5-9, 12-24. H1 and H2. This widely planted variety has white flowers that have pink and lavender tones and are fragrant. Crowns are normally deep blue or purple. This is not a fruiting variety. In colder areas, give protection from frost and wind and mulch roots in wintertime. 

Passiflora bryonioides (Cupped Passionflower)
These plants are native to northern Mexico in the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Guanajuato and in the southwestern United States (Arizona). It forms an annual vine that uses tendrils to climb structures and other plants, and produces white flowers with purple stripes along petals. Fruits are pale green.

Passiflora caerulea (Blue Crown Passion Flower, Common Passion Flower, Blue Passion Flower)
This species is best in zones 5-9, 12-24. H1 and H2 and will die to the ground in cooler regions. Can be evergreen or semi-evergreen. Flowers are slightly fragrant and are green-white with white and purple crowns. Fruit is egg-shaped and yellowish orange, but is not particularly appetizing. Can be invasive. Variety 'Constance Elliott' has white flowers with purple crowns.

Passiflora ciannabarina (Red Passionflower)
Endemic to south-eastern Australia, these climbing to scrambling vines produce stems up to 13 feet long. Tendrils form in leaf axils, and flowers are red with white and yellow filaments. 

Passiflora citrina (Lemon-Yellow Passion Flower)
This species is native to Central America, and is widely grown as an ornamental in its native range. It is grown in greenhouses outside of its native range as a specimen, as well. Flowers are light to bright yellow with protruding stamens.

Passiflora edulis (Passion Fruit, Maracuja, Parcha, Wal Dodam, Yellow Grenadilla, Likkoi, Maracuya)
These vines are native to an area that ranges from southern Brazil through Paraguay into northern Argentina. The species is commercially cultivated for its fruits, which are sweet and seedy. It forms a perennial vine with green foliage and white and purple flowers.

​Passiflora x exoniensis
This evergreen species is best in zones 16, 17, 23, 24 and H2. Flowers are droopy and pink on the inside, dark green and brownish red on the outside. Fruits are banana-shaped, yellow, and three inches long.

Passiflora foetida (Stinking Passionflower, Wild Maracuja, Bush Passion Fruit, Wild Water Lemon, Stoneflower, Love-In-A-Mist, Running Pop)
Native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. They favor moist soils and are known to be an invasive species in some areas of the world. Stems are thin and wiry, and older stems are woody. Leaves give off an unpleasant odor when crushed. Flowers are white with light blue to light purple. Fruits remain green at maturity. They are considered protocarnivorous plants due to their ability to trap insects on their sticky bracts and digest them using enzymes.

Passiflora glandulosa (Wild Passion Fruit)
This deciduous climbing vine produces stems that can reach up to 66 feet long, and is native to the northeastern coast of South America. It has red to scarlet-colored flowers with recurved petals

Passiflora incarnata (Wild Passion Vine, Maypop, Purple Passion Flower, True Passionflower, Wild Apricot)
This deciduous Passion Vine grows well in zones 4-10, 12-24, H1 and H2. It is native to the eastern regions of the United States and is hardy (good to about -10 degrees Fahrenheit). Fragrant flowers are white or pale lavender with showy purple and pink crowns. Fruit is egg-shaped and yellow. Spreads via underground roots and can become invasive. Easy to grow from seed, but difficult to find as nursery specimens.

Passiflora 'Incense'
This is a deciduous variety that is best in zones 5-24, H1 and H2. it is hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Flowers are purple with a lighter crown and are fragrant. Fruit is olive green to yellow green and especially appetizing.

Passiflora laurifolia (Water Lemon, Jamaican Honeysuckle, Golden Bellapple, Pomme Liane, Orange Lilikoi)
Native to the tropical Americas, these plants have a wide distribution throughout tropical areas of the world. It is occasionally cultivated for its fruits in its native range. Fruits have green to deep orange skin and white-yellow extremely juicy pulp. Flowers are white and purple.

​Passiflora 'Lavender Lady'
This variety is evergreen and grows well in zones 16-24 and H2. Flowers are profuse, but unscented. Blooms are lavender with purple crowns.

Passiflora ligularis (Sweet Granadilla, Grenadia, Sugarfruit)
This species forms an evergreen climbing shrubby plant, producing stems up to over 16 feet long. Leaves are dark green with grey-green undersides and flowers are white (sometimes flushed with pink or purple). Flowers appear throughout the year in the plant's native range (central and northwestern South America). Fruits that follow are yellow-orange when ripe, though can take on brownish hues if they do not get enough sunlight.

Passiflora loefgrenii (Garlic Passion Fruit)
This species is named for its specimen collector Albert Lofgren, and forms a perennial, climbing vine. Stems are smooth, and leaves are green. Flowers are purple, blue-violet, and white and about 5 inches wide. These plants are cultivated as both ornamentals and crop-producing plants in many areas of the world. In temperate zones, they will need a greenhouse.

Passiflora lutea (Yellow Passionflower)
Native to the central and eastern areas of the United States, these perennial vines produce leaves that have three lobes. Flowers are yellow-green and small, followed by green fruits that turn almost black when mature. These vines reach up to between 10 and 16 feet long, and prefer to grow in moist to wet habitats.

Passiflora maliformis (Sweet Calabash, Conch Apple, Wild Purple Passionfruit, Sweet Cup)
These fast-growing shrubby vines grow well in cooler-than-tropical habitats, and produce stems that can reach up to between 10 and 33 feet long when mature. Flowers are are white and purple, and fruits that follow have tougher, harder rinds than fruits of other species in the genus. These plants are native to the Caribbean, Central America, and northern areas of South America.

Passiflora mixta (Curuba de Indio, Curuba de Monte, Curubita, Parcha, Taxo, Banana Passionfruit)
These perennial vines can be identified by their bright pink flowers and are native to an area that ranges from Venezuela through Bolivia. It has naturalized in other areas of the world, including Africa and New Zealand, where it grows on edges of forests. 

Passiflora morifolia (Blue Sweet Calabash, Woodland Passionflower)
These twining vines are fast-growing and can reach up to 24-33 feet long in a single season. Flowers are white, blue and purple, followed by fruits that mature to a dark blue-black color. Hardy to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Fruits that follow blooms are edible, but not flavorful, and have orange flesh. Grows well in full sun or filtered shade, quite vigorous once established. Grown as an ornamental; native to Central America and South America.

Passiflora suberosa (Corkystem Passionflower, Corky Passion Vine, Cork-Bark Passion Flower, Corkstem Passionflower, Corky Passionfruit, Meloncillo)
These plants, native to the Americas, form creeping perennial lianas up to 20 feet long. Leaves are simple and shiny green on both sides. Flowers are small and yellow-green, relatively inconspicuous compared to flowers of other species in the genus. Fruits are small and round, almost black when ripe.

Passiflora quadrangularis (Giant Granadilla, Barbadine, Grenadine, Giant Tumbo, Badea)
These vigorous, tender evergreen perennial vines produce the largest fruit of any species in the genus. These plants are native to the Neotropics, and produce nodding red flowers surrounded by white and purple filaments. They are grown as ornamentals, and for their fruits. Hardy to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Passiflora tarminiana (Banana Passionfruit)
These climbing vines produce deciduous green foliage and light pink to mauve-colored flowers. This species has the potential to be invasive in New Zealand and some areas of the United States, including Hawai'i and California. Check with local authorities before planting. Fruits are elongated and yellow to orange when ripe, resembling small bananas (hence their common name).

Passiflora telesiphe
These vines produce slender branches clothed in dark green (sometimes mottled with white) leaves with purple undersides. Flowers are white with purple tinge and filaments are white to purplish. 

Passiflora vitifolia (Perfumed Passionflower)
Native to southern Central America and northwestern South America, these vines produce stems covered in red-brown hairs when young. Leaves resemble those of Vitis spp. ​This species is evergreen and grows best in zones 16, 17, 23, 24 and H2. Leaves are large and deep green, flowers are bright red and unscented. Fruit is yellow and about 2 inches long.

Caring for PAssiflora

Passionflower vines do well in full sun to partial shade conditions, and sun requirements vary depending on the species. On average, should ideally be receiving between 6 and 8 hours of direct light each day, and will flower and produce the best foliage and fruits the more sun they get. Some afternoon protection from sun is needed in particularly hot areas to avoid over-stressing the plant or causing foliage sunburn. These vines prefer well-draining soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (neutral to acidic). If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature. 

Keep the soil moist while plants establish a strong root system; mature plants are considered somewhat drought-tolerant, but they do appreciate consistent moisture during the growth and flowering season, especially if a good harvest is desired. Foliage can be trimmed back at any time of the year to control growth and remove dead, damaged and diseased stems and leaves. Doing so will keep the plant at its healthiest form. Pinch young plants to encourage a bushy habit to form. Fertilize Passiflora plants yearly for the best show of blooms with a dressing of organic compost applied around the base of the vine. Work the compost into the soil a bit, and then replace the mulch around the base.

Propagation

Passiflora vines can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Passionflower Vine, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Passiflora by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Passiflora by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, and that plants grown from seed can take up to 10 years to start blooming and producing fruits. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seeds of Passionflower vines are contained inside of the fruits produced after flowers have faded. They are best used straight out of the mature fruit; they do not store well and should be planted immediately after harvesting. Fruits are typically mature in late summer or fall
  3. Passiflora seeds have a hard coating that protects them, but this coating also makes it a little difficult to get them to germinate. We can help the process along by soaking them in lukewarm water for around 24 hours before planting them. Toss any seeds that float; they are not viable and will not germinate.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
The edible fruits of Passionflower Vine contain many seeds.
Passionflower seeds are typically dark, somewhat large, and have pock-marked surfaces.

Problems and Pests

In the garden, Passion Vine is susceptible to developing issues with the following:
  • Nematodes
  • Fusarium Wilt
  • Cucumber Mosaic Virus
  • Bacterial Spot
For more information on these issues, including how to solve them, consult the following pages:
​

Gallery

Grow Passion Vine on fences, trellises, or any other structure desired.
The beautiful blooms of these vines are real conversation-starters in the landscape.
Here, a Passionflower Vine is planted on a fenceline alongside Salvia.
These veins can be grown in containers, which reduces their proclivity for suckering and spreading.
Here, a Passionflower Vine is used to frame the entrance to a chicken-patrolled vegetable garden.
Bees are important pollinators of these vines.

Videos

How to grow Passionfruit in your backyard.
All about Passionvine and its various qualities.
An introduction to these great landscape plants.

Resources

Passion Flower Propagation - How to Root Passion Vine Cuttings and Grow Passion Flower Seeds
How to Grow Passion Flowers
Tropical Passion Flowers - How to Grow Passion Vine
Passionflower: Plant Care and Growing Guide
Wikipedia: List of Passiflora Species
Passion Flower Vine Problems: Learn About Issues Affecting Passion Flower Vines
Wikipedia: Passiflora
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 476 - 477, Passiflora