Common Passionflower Passiflora caerulea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pas-si-FLOR-ah se-ROO-lee-ah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Blue passionflower is a vining, herbaceous perennial or perennial in the passion vine family (Passifloraceae). It is native to parts of South America and is the national flower of Paraguay. The genus name, Passiflora, relates to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the 15th to 16th century, Roman Catholic priests in Latin America used parts of the flower to symbolize the Passion of Christ. The species epithet, caerulea, means “blue.”
It grows well in partial shade to full sun in moist soil with good drainage. Blue passionflower adapts to clay, loam or sandy soils and is not particular about soil pH. It likes high humidity. It grows 3 to 6 feet wide and reaches 10 feet to 40 feet tall and may be pruned after flowering to reduce the plant’s size. When pruning, cut back the year's growth by one-half. Deadhead the flowers regularly. The plant may be propagated by seed or stem cutting.
Blue passionflower has showy blue and white flowers and orange fruits.The unusual saucer-shaped flowers on long stems typically appear from early summer to early fall. The fruits appear late summer through the fall and start green then ripen to yellow and deep orange. It is evergreen in warm winter climates and deciduous in temperate climates.
It is a good choice for arbors, containers, cottage gardens, trellises, walls and fences. The tendrils cling to trellis, arbors or fences, but will not damage surfaces. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the beautiful flowers.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Fungal diseases are possible if the plant doesn’t have good air circulation. The roots may also develop fungal diseases if an excessive amount of top growth is removed all at once.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Constance Elliot'
White flowers
- 'Constance Elliot'
- 'Constance Elliot'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Constance Elliot'
White flowers
- 'Constance Elliot'
- 'Constance Elliot'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Passiflora
- Species:
- caerulea
- Family:
- Passifloraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Bolivia to Brazil and N. Argentina
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant to butterflies. Pollinators attracted to the flowers.
- Edibility:
- Plant parts used as a stress-relieving tea. The fruit, while edible, tastes bland.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Orange
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit, while edible, tastes bland. The plant produces egg-shaped green fruits which when ripened, turn yellow to a deep orange color from late summer to fall. The fruits measure approximately 2.5 x 1.5 inches and are partly hollow. Inside the fruit, there is a small amount of deep red colored pulp surrounded by a large number of seeds. To gather seeds, allow the pods to dry on the plant. Break open pods to collect the seeds. The seeds are 4mm long and silvery brown in color. Sow seeds outdoors in the fall. During the winter, sow seeds in a cold frame or unheated greenhouses.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers bloom on long stalks. They are solitary, sometimes fragrant, and measure 2.5 to 3 inches wide. The flower is saucer-shaped with 10 tepals that have rounded tips. The tepals are white to whitish-pink on the inner side and greenish on the outer side. There is a circle of blue filaments in the middle of the flower. The filament is blue on the outer half, white in the middle, and dark purple-black at the base. In the center are the 3 styles which are purple, and the 5 stamens are greenish-yellow. They bloom early summer to early fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are shiny, hairless, green, alternate, and simple in type. They have smooth margins. They are 4 to 6 inches wide, palmately lobed, and the lobes are oblong. They are typically 5 lobed leaves, but some leaves may be 3, 7, or 9 lobed. A twining tendril is at the base of each leaf, and each tendril is approximately 2 inches to 4 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are green and brown, hairless, and have coiling green tendrils.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
- Slugs
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
