Eastern Yellow Passionflower Passiflora lutea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pas-si-FLOR-ah-uh LOO-tee-uh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Eastern yellow passionflower is an herbaceous perennial vine in the passion vine family (Passifloraceae). It is found in a wide area across the south-central and southeastern United States, including North Carolina. The genus name, Passiflora, relates to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Roman Catholic priests in Latin America used parts of the flower to symbolize the Passion of Christ. The species epithet, lutea, is Latin for “deep, buttercup yellow,” which is an exaggeration of the flower color.
Plant this vine in fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. To encourage robust root growth and ensure its return the following spring, put young plants in the ground as early in the growing season as possible. It produces deep underground rhizomes, so plants can spread from the initial planting. It often grows serendipitously through shrubs and other landscape materials with virtually no inputs of water or fertilizer. This is an easy-to-grow native plant.
The bright green leaves are wider than they are long and softly lobed in three parts. The flowers are small, about 1 inch or less across, pale greenish yellow to off-white, blooming in late summer to fall. The flowers are followed by small black berries that are eaten by birds and mammals. This vine is an important wildlife plant, attracting bees, butterflies, birds and mammals while being resistant to damage by deer. See this article for information and photos of the passionflower bee.
It is happy in a container, will grow on a trellis or fence or sprawl on the ground, and is at home in a butterfly or pollinator garden. In cold areas, containers may need to be brought indoors over the winter. This plant is much better behaved in the garden than P. incarnata.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is sometimes attacked by the passionflower flea beetle, but the damage will not kill the plant. This plant is the larval host for the Gulf fritillary, zebra longwing, and variegated fritillary butterflies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Passiflora
- Species:
- lutea
- Family:
- Passifloraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and south-central USA
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Host plant to the Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Heliconia, and Variegated Fritillary Butterfly. It is a pollen source for the passionflower bee (Anthemurgus passiflorae).
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dark purple, black to blue marble sized fruit displays from August to October and has a very bitter taste though they are enjoyed by birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch unusual yellow flowers bloom from June to September.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 3-lobed, 1 to 3 inches long and 3 to 6 inches wide. Sometimes leaves will have subtly variegation with silver in summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Slugs
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses