BOUGHT A PASSION FLOWER TODAY....any advice????

Hi, All!

I bought a Passion Flower (Passiflora) today at my HD. They had a 10% off coupn and I splurged. It was $19.95. I justified it as a Mother's Day present to myself.

I have never grown one. I plan to put it in a large pot where it can climb up a trellis next to my shed wall. It will get a long morning sun--then afternoon shade. I got the red one. I was tempted to get the white/lavender one, but I just think any white flowers show "wear and tear" much easied than darker colors. Anyway----it will be a conversation piece at my June cookout!!!.

I live in zone 7a in Baltimore. I know I will have to take it in for the winter or sacrifice it to the "Ice Gods". If I take it in, I will have to dig it up and cut it back and repot it in a smaller pot. Will this work? If I do this, will it survive? Can this plant go dormant for the winter in a basement?

Any advice from all you DG experts is welcome. Please!......................GIVE!!!!!

Thanks, Gitagal

I have them in the ground at the Spring Hill place and they grow all over the place like weeds. Started with 3 cuttings from Tim on DG about three yrs ago. of course they need freeze protection but should be easy to grow in your container. If you want a purple/white one get it for sase from somebody on here. I won't be back in FL 'til Oct but lots of people have them and cuttings are easy to do. it should do dormancy alright too but I would pot up some small cuttings in the fall and start them like a houseplant just to be sure.

This message was edited May 2, 2005 10:30 PM

I love passionvines but I'm having a TERRIBLE time with caterpillars. My advice is to keep your eyelids up and keep them in check or you'll they'll get stripped bare. *sigh* I had some last year and loved the butterflies with very little damage but his year my vines may perish. I just didn't get them under control in time... I still don't have them under control!

Okay that was way too pessimistic! You won't have a single caterpillar on yours! You live in a caterpillar-free zone, right? :) You'll love the flowers and the vine grows like crazy. My friends always take a minute to inspect the blooms. :)

Kiki's Dad,

Thanks for the encouragement. Are you saying that your Passion Vine can winter over in NY???? You are furthere north than me! Do you do anything special to winter it over? Like mulch it heavily or shield it somehow from the winds and cold? You say they grow all over like weeds. REALLY!!! Do you mean outside in the fields or in greenhouses? Are you with the Spring Hill Nursery? Just wondering.....

Re taking cuttings. Where from and what kind of "wood"? New growth? semi-hard wood? Mature wood? Are they easy to root? I really don't want to dig up the whole plant and bring it in. I will have my hands full with the 6 Brugmansias I will be growing this Summer! Last year I only had ONE! Then Bruggie sent me 5 more.....They take a lot of attention...

Jen,

YES! Lets hope I live in a caterpillar-free zone! I don't grow any veggies (OK--ONE tomato...), so where would they come from? What do they look like and WHERE on the plant do they like to be? You mentioned the bloom. Is that where they like to party? How big and what color are they, or are they just any old caterpillars?

Thank you both for responding. Gita

I wonder if you'd have the same cats that live in my zone? The butterflies (I can't recall what kind they are - orange, lol!) just love this vine and lay a bizillion eggs on them. They start off eating the leaves but when the food supply gets low they move on to the flower buds. I find them everywhere on the vines - stems, leves, buds, and flowers. There's been fewer the last few days - maybe because I've been more vigilant about pulling them off or maybe because their food supply is dwindling. :(

Jen,

Are you talking about Monarch Butterflies?

Sorry to be such a pest myself, with all these questions, but when I spend $20 on ONE plant I want to be fully prepared. What time of year do these butterflies lay all those gadzillion eggs? You are in z9. I am in z7a. Maybe we don't have all these hot-climate pests. As of this writing, we are still having quite cool nights. We are a good 2 weeks behind with the Spring weather here. Soon!!! pleeeease, SOON!!!! Then, when we have 99 degree days and it cools "down" to 80 at night, I will be wishing for this cooler weather. And so it goes here in MD!

Thanks again, Gita

citagal, No I can't winter over passiflora in NY lol. we have a home in Florida where we spend winters and thats where the vines are thriving.

I came across a picture - and an ID - of my pest today.

http://www.casasarroyo.org/flowers/fauna/GulfFritBfly.html

How is your vine looking, Gita?

Passiflora incarnata will winter over in your zone - it will live, with mulch, down to zone 5a.

Hi Gitagal,

I'm so curious as to which HD you bought the PV? I live in Baltimore too, but I haven't been lucky enough to find one at HD. I bought one this past weekend at Watson's Nursery on York Rd. and paid $30 for it. It's in a hanging basket and is full of long budded vines. The name, I believe, is 'clear sky'. My plans are to set it outside in a container for the summer and then bring it indoors in the winter. I've heard that I shouldn't expect much from it over the winter.

Thanks,
GH

I live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona and am also growing my first Incense Passion vine. I planted it two months ago as a small seedling and it is growing and blooming like crazy. It has reached the roof of my covered patio and is inching onward by several inches a day. It gets full sun all morning and is shaded in the afternoon. Although we had lots of butterflies earlier I haven't had a big problem with caterpillars. I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Touscan Jane,
Thanks for the pictures of the "pest".

My vine is Doing OK! Not putting out too much new growth. Just a few tennacles vining upward. I guess it is getting settled it. Our temps have not yet hit the 80's here in the daytime. We are all enjoying the wonderful days. We all know what is comming!!! The buds that were there have been opening. I have it in a 16" square planter that sits above the ground and will get morning sun only. I hope that will work!

Kay!

Will it winter over here if it is in a planter above ground? It is right against my shed wall and faces NE. I could easily protact it with some mulch and burlap around the whole thing for the winter. I would rather NOT have to dig it up or take cuttings.

Grow Happy,

I work at the White Marsh HD on Pulaski Hwy! I live in Perry Hall. If you' re in the area, send me an e-mail and maybe we can comunicate one-on-one. These kind of plants came in for Mother's day. There are NONE left by now! Have to be quick if you want them. They sell out, as everyone wants an instant planter-type of plant. Something Tropical! I was looking for a second one (the white/purple one), but there are none left.

You say the one you got at Watsons ($$$$) was in a HB??? I am curious to know how that will do? I know it is a vine, so I imagine it can hang as well. Can you post some pics when it is blooming???

Sharon,

No wonder yours is taking off! You are in a tropical zone! Here in Baltimore, we are zone 7a. Still having fairly cool nights and days. Erything is 2 weeks behind "schedule" this year....

Keep the comments coming! I like gathering as much info. as i can when i buy a new plant for my garden. Thanks, Gitagal