Passiflora alata (F)

RHS Plant Profile
winged-stem passion flower

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winged-stem passion flower RHS
winged-stem passion flower RHS

Other common names

fragrant granadilla, winged passion-flower

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An evergreen climber to 6m or more, with 4-winged stems and large 3-lobed rich green leaves. Fragrant flowers to 12cm across, are bowl-shaped, with spreading red tepals and corona banded with purple and white, followed by edible yellow fruit 12cm long

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1C

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Passifloraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit
Plant Range
Peru & Brazil

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost such as John Innes No. 3 in full light with shade from hot sun. Water freely when in growth and sparingly in winter. Best grown under cover and kept frost free. See passion flower cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 13 to 18°C in spring or root semi-hardwood cuttings in summer. Layering can be carried out in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Edible fruit

Pruning

Pruning group 11 or pruning group 12 in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a virus