Veseys seeds claim to have a Passion Flower hardy to zone 6. I am 5a so it would be pushing it a wee bit, but with some good winter mulching...
Passiflora incarnata they say it is, true or false? Hardy?
Could it be true??
Canada is pretty darn cold, I have a hard time seeing it survive up there. Claims are that it can survive to something like -16F but just means someone reported theirs doing that, it doesn't mean that they all will. With that being said, I really don't know anyone myself that has had temps lower than 15 to 20f consistently and had them survive. I honestly think you'd be better off getting another type of passiflora and keeping it cut back and indoors near a window during the winter.
Mark
awwww...thanks for being honest though.
Temps. here can reach -25F.
Dang!!
I agree with Mark...there is the possibility that you could get your P. incarnata through the winter outdoors with lots and lots of mulch, but you are much more likely to lose it.
I have a large P. incarnata in a 14" plastic pot that I EASILY overwinter in my basement, even though there is virtually no light down there. I just give it a cup or two of water every week or so to keep it alive and then bring it back out into the garden in the spring. I encourage you to give this US-native species a try!
Erick
I should add that during the winter, the Incarnata will alway's die back and resprouts from it's roots every year, that is why it does survive lower temps than most others do. I still believe however that Canada would be way too cold for the roots to survive.
Mark
Thanks Mark and Erick. Maybe I'll give it a try indoors. At least it'll go dormant for the winter and save me some space :))
Is it apt to get spider mites?
I have never seen spider mites on my P. incarnata, but that's just my experience. It's so easy to grow and the flowers are large and showy...please give it a try!
Erick
you are very welcome. Not sure about the spider mites though.
Mark
P. Incarnata is hardy in Zone 6b with no cover at all, but I don't know about north of here. I found out last year we had one growing at the vet clinic where I work, it sure doesn't get any special TLC. I have one I started from seed last fall and it has gone through the winter by trial and error on my part. I have it in the house now but will plant it out in the summer. The one at the clinic is rooted in shade but it climbed the tree for the sun.
I've grown this one for about 8 years, I normally lose it to drowning in our wet coast winters. It has done okay in a well drained spot like the overhang of the house down to about -9C or 15F. In the greenhouse we quite often have mite problems in the early spring and summer but i don't think it is any worse that the other types that we have.
Jim