New Passiflora, Now What?

I finally have a Passion Flower plant, but I am not quite sure what to do with it because I don't know what kind it is and if it's hardy.

I guess my first question is if anybody can identify it. As far as I know, the Maypop Passion Flower is the only one hardy here, and only if it's really well protected in winter. I assumed this was a Maypop, but I don't know why I assumed that.

Here's the pic -- taken at night. There are no flowers on it, and it's on a trellis & planted in a 1 gallon pot. I can take another picture of it if you tell me what specifically you're looking for.

Thanks,
Suzy

Hello Suzy.

Congratulations, and welcome to the wonderful world of Passifloras! I can't tell for sure from the picture, but I do believe that you have a 'Maypop' vine, otherwise known as Passiflora incarnata. There is alot of information about it on the web, and I encourage you to dig around some (and feed your growing Passiflora addiction!).

It is my understanding that P. incarnata is hardy in your zone, although I suggest that you mulch it well if you plan to overwinter it in the ground.

If you decide to keep it in a pot (which also works, and makes it easier to move around and even bring indoors for the winter), I suggest you move it into a much larger pot. It is a large vine and will grow very quickly now that summer is here. It will also be much easier to keep it watered in a large pot. Don't worry about the flowers - you'll have tons this summer.

Good luck with your new vine, and please do keep posting pics.

Erick

Oh, I am so happy because I wanted it outside!!! Thank you Erick!!! They had 5 of them along with 5 Mandevillas (which are definitely not hardy), but I had been reading about them, looking at photos, etc., and I just thought it looked lke a maypop. I've been wanting one, and I have found passion flowers mailorder, but golly! With shipping & handling, a little stick would be over $20.00. This is a big ole VINE, baby!

Okay, now the real question, and something I don't understand. In Indianapolis, where the summers are really hot, I think this baby would appreciate some shade, but in Indianapolis, where the winters are cold, I think it would like to be by my brick which faces south or west.

How do I get it part shade in summer and full protection (with lots of sun) in winter? Do I partner it up with a rose or something? That is the only "shrubbery" I have near the house.

Suzy

Suzy,

Congrats on your excellent purchase! Ordering any Passiflora through the mail will cost you at least $20, so you made a great deal!

Although I am not an expert on Passifloras by any means, I believe your new P. incarnata would be thrilled in full sun against your brick wall during the summer. The more sun they get (with some exceptions), the better they grow and bloom. Just make sure to slowly introduce it to the site so it doesn't fry.

As the vine tends to grow up and not be so full near the base, you may want to plant a rose or some other bushy plant in front of it. You'll then have a lovely combo look!

Please keep us updated!

Erick

Thank you, again, Erick. I have it sited near the brick still in its pot, but not where waves of heat hit it.

and while you may not claim to be the expert of the world, I figure you know waaaay more than I!

Suzy.

You are most welcome Suzy. I wish you hundreds of blooms this summer!

Erick

Suzy - not trying to hijack your thread promsie but....

Eric - once passi's (with roots) are received is it better to pot them for a while or put them directly in the ground. I'm referring to ones that are hardy to my area?

Thanks to you both!!

Chantell,

If the plants look healthy, I see no reason why not to pot them directy in the ground. Just make sure to shade them some for a week or two until they get established. I think direct sun could really damage them if their roots aren't yet functional.

Good luck to you!

Erick

You're a sweetheart...thank you!!!

He is, isn't he?

Suzy

You are both very kind. Thank you. It's fun when I have the rare opportunity to give advice to others - I always seem to be seeking it!

Erick

Suzy, I believe what you have is P. Belotii. This defintaely will NOT pop back from the roots so being in Indiana, you must give it winter protection. If your not worried about having a 5 gallon pot in your house, I would pot it up in that bigger pot, feed it, enjoy it's flowers and then cut it back to a managable size in the winter and keep it in front of a window until mid spring. While it will tolerate a slight freeze, a hard freeze will kill it roots and all.
Mark

Ug, I had a feeling it was too good to be true! Maybe I should see if they will take it back. I don't have window light to devote to a monster, even cutting it back to manaegable size will probably make the table sag. Or maybe I should put it in the garage over winter...but I never know how cold it will get out there. There isn't much information in PFs about this one. Does it go dormant? Do they get bugs?

It is very hard to get a pretty vine/climber in the north. You guys in more temperate climates are very lucky.

Thanks, Mark,
Suzy

Suzy - good questions!! Wondering if the guys and gals can tell us if these plants tolerate either Bayer Tree and Shrub or Bayer Rose 3 in 1 to take care of any buggies prior to bringing them in for the fall?

I didn't return my Passion flower vine to the place where I bought it, thinking I could save the plant inside this winter...but now I have another problem: Something is taking my big fat passionflower buds RIGHT when they are about to open. Like the day before they open.

I had one flower -- for one day and then it was gone. I had a fat bud and then I didn't have it anymore. It happened again today, so I know it isn't my imagination. LOL!

I have a lot of wildlife here...your basic bunny-chipmunk-squirrel-bird-'possum-raccoon-woodchuck wildlife. Any guesses as to what is taking the buds and what can I do about it?

Suzy

Great purchase, Suzy! Now you have the Passie bug...lol! You start with one and than.....booooooom!! You need more.

I don't think it is a animal that is nipping the buds off. Probably a bug or capitillar of some sort. Keep checking around and maybe you can find the culprit.

:) Donna

Suzy, are you sure the buds aren't sitting on the ground? Sometimes Belottii buds will abort just before opening.
Mark

Passiflora incarnata is hardy to PA. Mine are growing like weeds & blooming like crazy. I love to see the bumble bees get drowsy after partaking of the flower and sleeping on the flower. LOL> Will send pix later.

Okay, I checked the ground and all around -- no pods. And no sign of even a part of the bud, pod or flower. The buds were faintly open and I could see a flush of purple on the inside -- I could have manually opened them if I tried, so I don't think they aborted. And a caterpillar or insect would leave some part behind, and they didn't. Nada, nuttin'. I'm tellin' ya, they were eaten by something big & voracious! Like one of my bunny family, a possum, squirel or most likely a racoon. Racoon or rabbit. That's my bet. Or a bird took it back to the nest. In any case those pods (and one flower) are GONE! I'm thinking about printing some of your photos and stapling them to the vine.

Suzy

That pix looks like P. caerulea, not P. incarnata. Here is P. incarnata

Well, I sure *don't* have the Passie Fever! I bought this plant, a big four footer, mind you, on Jun 12 and have yet to see a flower.

I keep it well-water and also use water soluble fertilizer, it has full sun and should be happy as a clam!

Suzy

Is your plant outside? I find that most of my greenhouse plants do much better when put outside for the summer. Maybe you ought to buy some blossom booster plant food & feed it with that.

Ok...now I'M confused...help please!! I thought someone said if you fed them with the higher ferts that your plant grew more vine but less leaves. Thoughts anyone? Pretty please and thank you.

All Fertilizer is not the same. Bloom Builder and Grass Fertilizer are totally diferent even though they are made up of basically the same key three ingredients. Each of the numbers on your fertilizer stands for a basic food element and each element does something different for the plant. Ya, know like carrots (Vit A) give you better eyesight and calcium gives you strong bones?

So the elements, in a sort of baby explanation, are Nitrogen - Phosphorus- Potassium which work on the plant "Up, Down, and All Around." You rarely use high nitrogen fertilizer on a flowering plant, but *never* on the ones that vine or else you'll get them going Up, Up and UP, expending al their energy on foliage.

The Up Down All Around needs another word, but then it wouldn't rhyme...Up, Down and Flowers, and All Around plus some flowers. Bloom fertilizer has high Phos and Potassium but low Nitrogen.

Suzy

Great explanation!! So the 1st should be a lower number the 2nd and 3rd higher...correct?

Yes, VERY MUCH LOWER on the Nitrogen, and it can be tough to find.

Suzy

Here are two more of the bloomers & I guarantee you that they are NOT P. incense.

And here is a fruit forming.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/748641/
Go here to see P. incense. Much deeper darker color than P. incarnata.

I've got both of them - so I'm tickled .... ummm, purple.

I'm about 6 or 7 months late but yes, nice Incarnata pics there Button. Suzy, what is the latest info on your plant? Did you ever get any flowers?
Mark

Oh, I am so mad --- for $30.00 I got buds, but the buds dropped or were eaten a day after they opened. I left the whole thing outside to freeze and die. I believe you were right,. Mark, on the species, as I only saw one actual open flower the whole summer..

I know I'm in the wrong forum to say this, but you can have your stinkin' passifloras... I am soured on the whole genus! Do I need to duck?

Suzy

lol, I'm sorry you feel that way Suzi. I have been growing them now for over 10 years and they can be wonderful plants to grow. The bummer part of it is that you have to protect them over winter unless you live in Florida or South Texas or something. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.
Mark

Yes, they do stink late in the day but in the morning when they first open, they are intoxicating. I have seen sleeping bumblebees on the flowers as a result of their imbibing the flower's essence. You could always keep them in a large pot with a trellis & bring them indoors for the winter. I wouldn't give up on this very unusual & wonderful plant. When I bring the flowers in to work, nobody can believe they are real. I have given cuttings to several friends in the area. It will be neat to see how they "take off" when the weather warms up. We are in zone 6 and they are hardy here. Maybe if you mulched the heck out of them,; Just trying to turn you back on to passifloras.

Suzy, write me in about a month if you remember and I'll start a nice hardy passion vine for you. Pure white flowers and easy to grow.
Mark

If Suzy doesn't want it I sure would. I have a P. Incarnata that I started from seed last summer and a seed that was labeled 'Giant Passionflower', any ideas? So far they have gone through the winter in the house. I am getting ready to start some Lady Margaret seeds, the ones I did last year never germinated.

The ones I have in the house are doing great and I put them under the lights with the rest of the seedlings and they are starting to grow and look really good. I can't wait to plant the P.Incarnata this Spring.

Dylan, is P incarnata hardy in your state?

Hi Mark, That's really nice of you, thanks!

Buttoneer, I'm not Dylancgc, but yes, Maypop (Passiflora incarnata) is hardy in Indianapolis Z5 and northern suburbs -- they actually grow wild. They do not make good garden plants because their roots come up, well, where they aren't invited. Plant them away from any ammended soil.

Suzy

Yes this one at the clinic has been growing there for who knows how long with no care at all. My SIL says she has some in her woods also. All I have is wild Honeysuckle, and that is only until the cows get in that pasture.

If you want any when mine come up in late June early July, let me know & I'll dig up a sucker or two & send them to you.