Passionflower is an exuberant plant whose lianas quickly cover a pergola, and its spectacular and fragrant flowers are the attraction of the garden. As for its fruits, although edible only when they are ripe, they are of no taste and in any case have nothing in common with the maracuja or passion fruit produced by the granadilla (Edible passion flower), a plant that also belongs to the family of Passifloraceae. So let’s see everything you need to know to grow Passionflower, chilly exotic beautyof which there are about 400 different species.
Plant a Passionflower
Passionflowers can be planted in the ground or in pots. You have to take care of hydrate the root ball well beforehand by immersing it in a basin of water.
Planting in the ground proceeds as follows.
- Dig a hole 3 times larger than the root ball,
- Mix the garden soil extracted at a planting soil or to a mature compost,
- Place a drainage layer at the bottom of the hole (expanded clay balls, gravel, etc.),
- Install the clod in the hole, making sure that its upper part is flush with the level of the ground,
- Fill the hole with the soil/potting soil or soil/compost mixture,
- Eliminate any air pockets by tamping down the soil with your foot without damaging the clod,
- Water generously.
If we prefer plant a potted passionflowerit is necessary to opt for a sufficiently large container (40 x 40 cm), fully drilled so that the water does not stagnate, then install a draining layer on the bottom on which it is recommended to lay a rot-proof veil so that the earth does not block the hole.
It then remains to place the rehydrated root ball in the pot and fill it with soil for mediterranean plants. Alternatively, you can use a soil for geraniums, but it is then advisable to add to it to lighten it either a little perlite, or medium-grained sand. The substrate must be watered copiously as soon as the Passionflower is planted in its pot.
Growing Passionflower
This is in spring preferably plant Passionflower because this plant, which is not very hardy, or not at all depending on the variety, must be installed in the garden when the risk of frost is no longer to be feared. But you should also avoid planting it during a period of high heat. She likes them sunny location and sheltered from the wind.
A support is to be expected because the Passionflower must be guided throughout its growth. It also helps support the heavy weight of the many large flowers that will bloom. For a Passionflower in the ground, make sure to make the hole 10 or 15 cm from the wall in order to allow air to circulate between the plant and its support. Palisade, fence, pergola are other perfectly adapted solutions. For a culture in pot, one can install several stakes with which it is possible to form a totem for example.
Caring for Passionflower
Passionflower is a plant fairly easy to grow because it does not need complicated care to quickly become a pure marvel. However, it should not be forgotten because it risks withering away.
Water
It is essential to water very regularly and generously its Passionflower during the three years following its planting. It is a water greedy, and even more so if it is hot. Also beware of the summer winds which quickly dry out the ground. On the other hand, during the period of vegetative rest, we only water if it does not rain for several weeks. After a few years, we can reduce the watering even in summer because this plant will then be more resistant to drought if it is planted in the ground.
It is a little different for the potted Passionflower which will always have need copious watering in summer because in a container, the soil stays moist for a shorter time. As soon as it begins to dry out, watering is essential. However, the pace slows down as soon as autumn arrives because the temperatures drop and the rains are more frequent.
Fertiliser
Passionflowers grown in the ground need a supply of organic manure in March/April. Mature compost works well too.
Regarding potted passionflowers, fertilization should be carried out approximately every 4 weeks, from March to August, using a potash-rich liquid fertilizer adapted to this type of flowering plant. This fertilizer is to be diluted in the irrigation water.
Cut
March to April, this is the best time to prune a Passionflower. Severe pruning is carried out because it is a very fast growing plant. The main structure is preserved and all the secondary branches are eliminated at the base.
For potted passionflowers to be less bulky when wintering, a small fall pruning can be done. Less severe than spring pruning, it boils down to moderately reducing the size of the plant.
Repot
This paragraph of course only applies to potted plants.
Every year in March, we carry out a surfacing. This consists of replacing about 4 or 5 cm of the surface substrate with new, very fertile soil.
On the other hand, the repotting a passionflower required every 3 years. As for planting, it is In early spring that we stick to it. You can thus install it in a pot a little larger than the previous one or in another style to bring a decorative touch to your terrace in order to be in trend… But repotting above all allows you to take the root ball out of the container , to check the state of its roots, to remove if necessary those which are damaged or dry, and of course (ultimate goal) to eliminate all the old soil in order to be able to replace it completely with a substrate rich in nutrients.
Protect in winter
Since the hardiness of passionflowers is not extreme, it is better to protect them so that they can spend the winter without incident.
Only the species P. blue can support -8 to -10°C. But for this, it is better to increase the thickness of the mulch until it reaches 10 to 12 cm. This is essential to preserve the strain. As for the aerial parts of this species of Passionflower, they do not resist at all below -4°C. We can put a winter sail to limit the damage in the event of severe frost, but the main thing is above all to protect the stump so that the plant regrows as soon as vegetation resumes.
Apart from exceptions, passionflowers may simply not withstand the winter in regions with a harsh climate. At most, they can be kept in the South, on the Atlantic coast and wherever the climate is particularly mild. Only a very moderate frost can go unnoticed.
As for potted passionflowers, they absolutely must be overwintered from the end of September or mid-October in order to be installed. hours gel in a room that is not necessarily heated but where the brightness is important. Pot culture is the worst situation for non-hardy plants when they are wintered outdoors because their roots are even more exposed to frost than in the ground.
Pests and diseases
Passionflower is less susceptible to disease. On the other hand, it can be invaded by parasites, in this case scale insects, when it is too dry and very hot. They must therefore be sprayed with a mixture of water, vegetable oil (rapeseed) and black soap to hope to eradicate these parasites. There are also commercially available anti-mealybug products that are effective.
The little red spiders are also common in very hot weather. A good spray of water on the foliage (including the underside of the leaves) is enough to solve the problem.
Finally, by attracting ladybugs, we can protect naturally passionflowers against common aphids. Note that the 22-spotted ladybug feeds exclusively on mealybugs.
Bouturer
Excellent results are obtained if you opt for cuttings when you want multiply your passionflowers. To do this, all you have to do is cut a few 20 to 25 cm cuttings during the summer, of which only the leaves located at the top of each stem are kept. The cuttings are then placed in culture cups filled with cuttings compost which must be kept moist. The plants are then covered with a very transparent plastic veil because they need light and the buckets are kept in a heated room.
When the new seedlings are well rooted and sufficiently vigorous, the plastic veil can be removed. We just have to wait for the next spring to repot the brand new Passionflowers.
blooming passion flower
The flowers of the passionflowers are developing on the new shoots of the year. Watering is essential to obtain abundant flowering. The flowers last only one day but they are constantly renewed. To preserve the aesthetics of the plant, faded flowers are gradually removed.
They are large and if extraordinary because of their complexity, people who discover passion flowers for the first time find it hard to believe that they are indeed real. sculptural, they seem to have been modeled by an artist. The show begins from May and continues until the end of summereven until the first frosts, for our greatest pleasure.