About
Passiflora caerulea, the blue passion flower, is a vigorous, large, evergreen climber to 10 m with rich-green, 5�7-lobed leaves to 10 cm long. Bowl-shaped flowers to 8 cm across, white with blue and purple coronal filaments, are produced from summer to autumn, followed by ovoid, orange fruits to 4 cm long. The most widely grown hardy passion flower � excellent on a sheltered wall in milder gardens.
About the genus
Passiflora, the passion flowers, are mostly tender, tendril-climbing shrubs with simple or palmately-lobed, generally evergreen leaves and showy flowers of distinctive structure with colourful coronal filaments, followed by ornamental fruits, some edible. Grown in warm, sheltered gardens and heated glasshouses.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageEvergreen
Height8-12 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Sub-tropical, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Native toS America
Care notes
CultivationFast-growing climber for sun or partial shade, with shelter. Thrives in moist but well-drained soil and has the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well. In cold areas, grow in a container and overwinter in a conservatory or greenhouse. See passion flower cultivation for more information
PruningPruning group 11 or pruning group 12 if necessary, in early spring
PropagationPropagate by seed, semi-hardwood cuttings or by layering in spring or autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, mealybugs and scale insects under glass
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a virus