 |
| Image credit - http://yhsgarden.wordpress.com/ |
Contrary to what you may think by walking around your local plant retailer, passiflora caerulea is not the hardiest passionflower plant that you can purchase. While it is indeed tough as old boots, the hardiest species of all is the gorgeous, but rarely seen Passiflora incarnata.
This of course means that you can impress your friends with an even fancier species of passionflower, but without the need to lift it for overwintering or to take cuttings to ensure viable stock for next year.
 |
| Image credit - http://coclo63.free.fr/ |
Commonly known as the Maypop, it is a fast growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. The fragrant flowers bloom from early June on-wards and are followed by fleshy, egg-shaped, edible fruits in July. These fruits will ripen to a yellowish color in the autumn when they can either be eaten fresh off the vine or made into jam.
They are best grown in a sheltered site on a south or west facing wall. They are happy in any well drained garden soil, but in colder areas may need to some winter protection for the first year or two while the main stems thicken up.
Trellis or wires make the best support, and while Passiflora incarnata is self-supporting, young growths will appreciate being tied in, or at the very least 'directed'.
The plants were given the name Passionflower or Passion vine because the floral parts were said to represent aspects of the Christian crucifixion story, sometimes referred to as the Passion. The 10 petal-like parts represent Jesus's disciples, excluding Peter and Judas. The 5 stamens represent the wounds Jesus received, the knob-like stigmas the nails, and the fringe the crown of thorns.
The name Maypop comes from the hollow, yellow fruits that pop loudly when crushed.
For related articles click onto:
Agave
Allium giganteum
Aloe vera
Bamboo
Buy Agave Seed
Buy Aloe vera Seed
Bird of Paradise Flower
Christmas Cactus Care
Coleus
Dinosaur Plants: The Cycad
Dinosaur Plants: The Sago Palm
Dracunculus vulgaris - The Dragon Lily
Echiums
Choosing Hardy Cacti and Succulents for Growing Outside
Growing Geraniums from Seed
How to Grow Bamboo
How to Grow the Calla Lily
How to Grow Colocasia
How to Grow Dahlias from Seed?
How to Grow Echium from Seed
How to Grow Lobelia from Seed?
Hardy Exotic Plants for that Tropical Garden Effect
How to Grow Palm Trees from Seed
How to Grow Aloe vera from Seed
How to Grow Banana Trees from Seed
How to Grow Brugmansia
How to Grow Geraniums from Seeds
How to Grow the Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba) from Seed
How to Grow Remusatia
How to Grow Roses from Seed
How to Grow the Sago Palm from Seed
How to Propagate Bamboo?
Lotus berthelotii
Paeony lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Schlumbergera Species - The Christmas Cacti
The Calla Lily
The Eyeball Plant
The Monkey Puzzle Tree - Araucaria araucana
Trachelospermum jasminoides
What has the Christmas cactus got to do with Christmas?
Hardy Cacti and Succulents for Growing Outside
What is an Agave?
What is Aloe vera?
What is Bamboo?
What is a Jade Plant?
