About
Flowers with reflexed purple petals and deeper purple to blue coronal filaments are borne from summer into early autumn and may be followed by orange-yellow fruits. A vigorous, twining climber with semi-evergreen, lobed leaves. The pulp in the fruits only can be eaten when they are fully ripe and yellow-orange. Unripe fruit and is toxic.
About the genus
Passiflora are mostly tender tendril-climbing shrubs, with simple or palmately-lobed, generally evergreen leaves and showy flowers of distinctive structure with often colourful coronal filaments, followed by conspicuous fruits, edible in some species
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height4-8 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationFast-growing climber for a warm position in a sunny and sheltered position; thrives in moist but well-drained soil. In cold areas, grow in a container and overwinter indoors
PruningPruning group 11 or pruning group 12
PropagationPropagate by, semi-hardwood cuttings or by layering in spring or autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a virus