Passionflower
Passiflora
Passionflower blooms from July through September.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Passionflower
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 6–9. Expect it to reach about 13 ft tall and 4.9 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years.
When to plant Passionflower
Plant Passionflower in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 6 to 9 range, spring means March to May and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from July to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 7 in March.
Comes in 4 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Passionflower
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Leaves, stems and unripe fruit hold cyanogenic glycosides, a medium-severity poison; eating them can cause nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and irregular heartbeat. Ripe fruit is safe. per NC State
Worth knowing
It is a caterpillar host: gulf fritillary and other fritillary larvae eat the leaves. Chewed foliage in summer is the wildlife payoff, not a pest to spray. per NC State and UF/IFAS
Cold limit varies by source
Sources split: some say zone 5 to 9, others 6 to 9 or 7B to 11. Zone 5 gardeners can grow it as a root-hardy die-back perennial with winter mulch. per NC State
Edible fruit, the maypop
The ripe egg-shaped fruit is edible fresh or as jelly; UF calls it edible but not very tasty. The hollow fruit pops loudly when crushed, hence 'maypop'. per NC State and UF/IFAS
Spreads by root suckers
It suckers aggressively from the roots, sending up shoots several feet from the parent to cover large areas. Pull suckers or grow it in a large container. per NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden
Climbs by tendrils
It climbs by curling tendrils that grab thin supports: wire, netting, a fence or other stems. Give it a slender frame to wrap, not a solid wall. per NC State
Blooms on new growth
It flowers on the current season's new growth, so a late-winter or early-spring cutback removes no buds. In cold zones the top dies back anyway. per NC State
What pairs well with Passionflower
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Aster
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Tulip Tree
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
Chives
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; echoes the purple.
Goldenrod
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Mock Orange
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; lower at 8.2 ft, for the front of the border.
Canterbury Bells
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; lower at 2.3 ft, for the front of the border.
Sage
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; low at 1.6 ft, to carpet the ground beneath.
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Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.