Purple Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

• Common Name: Purple Passionflower (other common names: Wild passionflower, maypop, passionvine, apricot vine, purple passion vine).
  
• Scientific Name: Passiflora incarnata
  
• Family Name: Passifloraceae
  
• Origin: Native to Florida.
  
• Height: 6’ – 8’ – can grow 20’
  
• Width: 3’ – 6’
  
• Growth: Fast growing - can grow 20’ in a single season and will naturalize.            
  
• Zone: 7B - 11
  
• Light Needs: Full sun – partial shade (full sun for best flowering).
  
• Salt Tolerance: Moderate.
  
• Soil/PH/Texture: Likes occasionally wet fertile soils of sand, loam, and clay, mildly acidic - slightly alkaline (pH 6.1 – 7.8).
  
• Soil Moisture: Average moisture but needs well drained soil.
  
• Drought Tolerance: High, it can tolerate very dry conditions.
  
• Pests/Diseases: No serious pests or disease but if you have poorly drained soils the roots can be susceptible to root rot. Nematodes can be a serious problem and caterpillars can slow growth by eating foliage.
  
• Growing Conditions: Medium maintenance required, but needs plenty of space because it is a aggressively spreading vine. Fertilize two or three times each year to maintain vigorous growth.
  
• Characteristics: The leaves of this vine are deciduous, 4-8” in length, three-lobed and dark green. The flowers are showy, light blue or lavender in color. Their flower shape is very unique, the gorgeous, three- to five-inch fragrant flower come in shades of lavender or purple, with a wavy fringe over five petals. Each 2”-3” flower lasts about a day during the summer and early fall. The large, egg-shaped fruits are called maypops, and will produce two to three months after flowering and can be eaten fresh off the vine or made into jelly.
  
• Propagation: Stem cuttings or layering, they multiply on their own readily by seed and suckers produced by established plants. Seedlings and divisions can easily be transplanted to share with gardening friends. Scarify your seeds before planting.
  
• Wildlife: Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.
  

• Facts: This vine is one of Florida’s most common native vines. Florida’s state butterfly, the Zebra Longwing and the Gulf Fritillary need this plant for survival. The larval stages (caterpillars) of these two butterflies feed on the foliage of passionflower vines which they need to complete their life cycle. It is also used as a medicinal herb. The name maypop refers to the loud popping sound made when their fruits are stepped on.

• Designer Considerations: Grows along the ground or will climb on any supporting object such as fences, trellises, or arbors in a sunny spot. It often spreads beyond where you originally plant it so be sure to give it room to roam.​

Location

Back to Bromeliad Island Garden

Purple Passion (P.) Bromeliad