Passion flower
Passiflora incarnata · Passifloraceae
📷 Hans-Simon Holtzbecker · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
Passion flower is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Passiflora incarnata
- Family
- Passifloraceae
- Plant type
- Perennial climbing plant
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to September
- Flowers
- Pink to purple, highly ornamental
- Adult size
- Up to 2 m in height
- Hardiness
- Temperate zones, tolerates cold (-15 °C)
- Origin
- United States (southeast)
- Growth rate
- Fast
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Passion flower loves full sun (at least 6 hours), deep, rich, light soil. Water regularly from June to September.
The common mistake
Exposing it to east or northeast-facing positions thinking partial shade is enough: it won't flower much at all.
The pro's trick
In February, cut it back hard (leave 3-4 buds per stem): passion flowers bloom on new growth, and this pruning triggers massive flowering.
Seasonal watch
In September, after the heat, it tends to exhaust itself.
Care
Light exposure
Install your passionflower in full sun to obtain abundant and generous flowering. It also tolerates partial shade, but will flower less densely. Ensure the location receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal results.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer) to keep the soil moist, without becoming waterlogged. In winter, reduce watering as the plant enters dormancy. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Pruning and training
Prune in spring (February-March) to remove dead wood and encourage branching. Guide the stems along a support (trellis, pergola) to structure growth. Light pruning after flowering can also stimulate a second flush of flowers.
Soil
Use well-draining, fertile substrate that is slightly acidic to neutral. Enrich the soil with compost or potting soil when planting. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot, especially in humid regions.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fertilizer or one slightly enriched in potassium in spring and summer, approximately every 15 days. Reduce or stop feeding in autumn and winter. Excess nitrogen would promote foliage at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
Watch for spider mites and mealybugs, which thrive in warm, dry environments. Check the undersides of leaves regularly and ensure good air circulation around the plant. Avoid stagnant moisture to prevent fungal diseases.
Did you know?
Passionflower incarnata is called the 'flower of the Passion' because its floral elements reminded 16th-century Christian missionaries of the symbols of Christ's Passion: the five sepals and petals representing the apostles, and the crown of filaments representing the crown of thorns. It has long been used in traditional herbal medicine for its calming properties, particularly as a herbal tea.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Passion fruitPassiflora edulis
- White passionflowerPassiflora subpeltata
- Bluecrown passionflowerPassiflora caerulea
- Passiflora foetidaPassiflora foetida
- Corkystem passionflowerPassiflora suberosa
- Yellow passionflowerPassiflora lutea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.