Passiflora caerulea

Description: Many passion flowers are available but this is a reliable hardy outdoor species providing beautiful and interesting flowers throughout summer and autumn. Flowers have creamy-white flowers with purple-blue zoned coronas and the foliage is glossy green and very deeply lobed. Plants make rapid annual growth each year which clings to support with tendrils. After a warm summer then you may find large orange-yellow fruits which can be left on the plants for decoration. Though related to the edible forms, these fruits have little flesh and do not have an outstanding flavour.

Climate/Position: Best planted on a sunny wall for best flowering.

Height/Spread: Up to 7 metres x 1.8 metres

Soil Requirements: Light sandy free draining soils prefered.

Pruning: Leave the growth over the winter and if pruning and shaping needed then prune as new growth starts in spring. Avoid cutting back into old woody growth.

Special Requirements: Plants need suitable supports to grow on such as strong fence or pergola as mature plant can be quite a weight. Climbs using tendrils so will not damage brickwork.

The blue passion flower was long ago adopted by Christians as a symbol of the Passion of Jesus. The flower's three stigmas are said to represent the three nails used in Jesus' cross, its five anthers are thought to symbolize Jesus' wounds, and the corona is seen as the crown of thorns. Meaning is also attributed to its petals and sepals, which are said to symbolize 10 of the 12 apostles missing out Peter & Judas.