Passiflora caerulea
blue passion flower
A vigorous, large, evergreen climber about 10m tall, bearing rich green leaves to 10cm long, with 5-7 finger-like lobes. Bowl-shaped flowers to 8cm in width, are white, with blue and purple coronal filaments, flowering from summer to autumn, then followed by ovoid orange fruits 4cm long. Fruits are edible but not particularly tasty
Other common names
blue crowncommon passion flower
see moreflower of five wounds
southern beauty
wild apricot
Synonyms
Passiflora mayanaPassiflora chinensis
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue Purple White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Blue Purple White | Green | Orange | |
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Passifloraceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing
- Genus
Passiflora are mostly tender tendril-climbing shrubs, with simple or palmately-lobed, generally evergreen leaves and showy flowers of distinctive structure with often colourful coronal filaments, followed by conspicuous fruits, edible in some species
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- S America
How to grow
Cultivation
Fast-growing climber for sun or partial shade, with shelter, thrives in moist but well-drained soil. In cold areas, grow in a container and overwinter in a conservatory or greenhouse. See passion flower cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed, semi-hardwood cuttings or by layering in spring or autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Sub-tropical
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Wall side borders
- Edible fruit
Pruning
Pruning group 11 or pruning group 12 if necessary, in early spring
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, mealybugs and scale insects under glass
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a virus
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.