Passion Vine Flower

Passion Vine (Passiflora caerulea)  Sun – Part Sun.  Feed your passion.  I did and I can’t tell you how pleased I’ve been with my Passion Vine (Passiflora caerulea), a tropical, twining, flowering plant.  It supposedly was given its name by Catholic missionaries who believed the flower’s unique shape spoke of the Passion of Christ.  The three stigmatas suggested the three nails in Jesus’ hands and feet; the filaments and threads resembled the thorny crown; the tendrils were said to be like the whips that scourged Jesus; the pointed leaf tips spoke of the spear that entered Jesuss side and lastly, the blue and white flowers stood for purity and heaven.  Thus the name ‘Passion Flower’.  Study the intricate beauty of this unusual flower and come to your own conclusion.  Similar to Group III Clematis, this beauty enjoys a sunny spot and sets its flowers on new growth in the spring.  This budding habit is great for colder climates where bitter winters can annihilate flower buds formed on prior year’s wood (like Forsythia, Lilac, and Rhododendrons).  I planted the Passion Vine in a colorful container and set it next to a lattice fence to scramble its heart out.  You can also place it near a trellis, chain link fence or railing. When colder weather approaches, simply whack the stems back to 6” to 8”, spray the leaves with insecticidal soap (Safer makes a good product), and bring it inside as a houseplant.  Give this ‘snowbird’ a sunny window until warm weather returns.  After danger of frost, start the sequence again.  Even though Passion Vine is more work than a cold-hardy perennial flower vine, its exotic beauty will win you over.  I bought my Passion Vine at Kulak’s Nursery (www.kulaksnursery.com), a local garden center, but they can also be purchased online