Passionflower is a perennial and annual herbaceous plant or evergreen climbing shrub that naturally grows in the Mediterranean, Australia, Asia, and the tropics of Peru. This flower has other names - “royal star” and “passion flower”. Anyone who has tried the delicious exotic fruit passion fruit will probably be surprised that it is the fruit of a type of passion flower. The tropical plant is readily grown by gardeners at home, admiring the blooming of unusual flowers and even collecting fruits from it.
Passionflower types and names with photos
Passiflora species Alata grows quickly in the wild, reaching 5 meters. At home, the plant has a more modest size. Flower growers grow it in a greenhouse or on a sunny window. The flowers have dark red or orange shades with a pleasant scent. The leaves are oblong, 10-15 cm long.
To grow, you need to install a support to which the plant will cling with long tendrils. It is also necessary to prune the vine frequently to produce more flowers. This species is valued for its aromatic fruits, which have dark yellow flesh. The fruits resemble a pear, but are large in size - 15 cm in length and up to 10 cm in diameter.
Passiflora phoetida ( variable ) the stems of this plant are covered with small hairs. The flowers are white or cream-colored with a diameter of 6 cm. The orange fruits are small in size and have juicy pulp. Foetida is a moisture- and light-loving plant that needs to be sprayed often and kept where there is a lot of light. Once every two weeks it is necessary to feed with fertilizer with a high fluoride content.
Passionflower Royal Star this plant has flowers with a white or blue tint. They reach 10 cm in diameter. The fruits are orange in color and resemble chicken eggs. During active growth, the flower needs to be watered and fed abundantly every week. It is frost-resistant and unpretentious in cultivation.
Passiflora Lavender Lady is a fast-growing vine with large (10-12 cm) flowers that resemble a star in shape. Flowering period - from April to mid-autumn. The characteristic features of the plant are rapid growth and vitality. When growing at home, it is necessary to maintain moderate soil moisture and good lighting.
Passionflower Blue Cassiopeia
The plant has flowers of a dark blue hue, reaching 12 cm in diameter. After flowering it produces yellow and inedible fruits. When growing a flower at home, it is necessary to install a high support so that the shoots of the vine cling with long tendrils. The plant blooms from early spring to mid-autumn.
Passiflora gigantea ( tetrahedral ) grows in the wild in the tropics of America. The stem of this evergreen vine has a tetrahedral shape. Large flowers, reaching a diameter of 10 cm, resemble bells. They are dark red on the outside and white or lilac on the inside. The yellow-green fruits are oblong, up to 30 cm long and 10 cm wide. The plant can adapt to almost any conditions.
Passionflower Sweet granadilla
This species has long and smooth vines on which wide, dark green leaves grow. The flowers are large with purple and white petals. The fruits are edible, bright yellow, orange or reddish in color.
In order for the plant to bloom and bear fruit, it must be placed where there is a lot of light. In summer, it is necessary to spray the leaves every day, since the air humidity is insufficient. The soil should not be allowed to dry out or water to stagnate. In spring and summer, fertilizing is required every two weeks.
Passionflower reed is a plant common in the mountains of South and Central America. The vines grow up to 4 meters, have wide and smooth leaves 8-10 cm long. The flowers are large with white-pink petals. After flowering, small yellow or orange fruits appear. For active growth, high air humidity with a temperature of 18-25 degrees Celsius is required.
Passiflora Incarnata ( meat-red ) grows in North America. Another name is " Passiflora apricot vine ". It reaches a height of 10 meters. The stems and leaves are smooth, with long petioles. The flowers are small and come in a variety of colors, but mostly have a purple tint. The plant produces yellow fruits with a pleasant taste.
Passionflower Edulis ( edible ). A liana of this species reaches a length of ten meters. This species produces an exotic fruit called " passion fruit ". The fruits are used to make juices, ice cream, and are used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The flowers are white-violet up to 3 cm in diameter.
Passionflower Karulea ( blue ). A rapidly growing plant native to the Brazilian tropics, which has taken root in the Mediterranean and England. In Russia it is often called the “ Cavalier Star ”, presumably for the flower’s external resemblance to ancient award badges. This species has flowers with blue and white shades with a diameter of 12 cm and fruits no more than 6 cm long.
Passiflora Molissima (banana)
This plant is native to the Andean highlands. It is distinguished by tasty and large (up to 12 cm) fruits. The vines reach 7 meters in length. Pink flowers with a fragrant scent sprout on them. At home, Molissima has a more modest size. Such a plant needs special care, maintaining the correct air temperature, soil moisture and light. It bears its first fruits two years after planting.
Passionflower Violacea grows quickly, especially after pruning. It has long shoots with dense foliage. Ideal for creating vertical gardening in the garden. The plant blooms every year throughout the summer. It produces fragrant flowers of various shades - from white to light pink with a diameter of about 5-7 cm. The buds appear for a day, but constantly replace each other. The plant is resistant to cold, tolerates frosts of 15 degrees Celsius.
Biological description
Passion flower at home
As a plant, passionflower is a shrubby or herbaceous plant capable of clinging to supports and reaching a height of several meters. Most passionflowers are perennial evergreens, but there are several dozen annual species.
The stems of perennial plants harden and become woody over time. The leaves of most passion flowers are oval or ovoid in shape with a pointed end. Trilobed leaves are often found, resembling bird paw prints.
In rare cases, the leaves are also five-lobed. The size of the leaves, depending on the species, can reach up to 25 cm. Dark green color predominates, but light green and multi-colored leaves are also found.
Trilobed passionflower leaf
Flowers are the main decoration of the plant. They are usually large, and there are a lot of them on one bush. They are formed in the axils of the leaves, and under favorable circumstances, two flowers will be formed in each axil.
Flower sizes can be very different:
- from 4 to 15 cm in diameter
- however, most are on the order of 10 cm in diameter.
The shape of the flowers is star-shaped, they consist of an equal number (most often 5) of petals and sepals . Inside the flower there are many bracts framing 5 stamens and one pistil with three stigmas.
This structure is characteristic of all types of passion flowers, and its elements in all species practically do not change in appearance. In some cases, the number of petals may be different, but their shape and location remain unchanged.
Passion flower structure
The growth rate of this vine is quite high; there are species that can bloom in the first year after planting. However, in most species the situation with flowering is less rosy: with vegetative propagation, flowering begins in 2-3 years, when planted with seeds - after 5-7 years.
Passionflower care at home
Passionflower attracts with the beauty of its flowers and exotic fruits. Fills rooms with its pleasant aroma. Creates an atmosphere of distant tropics in the house. It is for these qualities that flower growers value Passionflower and diligently breed it.
This is an unpretentious plant, but in order for it to bloom and make you happy, you need to be able to care for it, following simple rules.
In summer, the plant is always in direct sunlight, and the soil dries out quickly. Therefore, water it in a timely manner. Try to do this every day. The soil should be moderately moist.
Also regularly spray green leaves with a spray bottle. Use soft and settled water. Spray the plant in the evenings to prevent droplets of moisture from burning the leaves. Try not to get on the flowers.
Advice! To maintain suitable ambient humidity, place the pot on a tray with damp pebbles.
Kholmskioldia is a member of the Lamiaceae family and is also grown as an indoor vine. Although the flowers cannot be compared with passionflower, they also have a very decorative appearance. The plant can be easily grown when cared for at home, subject to all maintenance rules. You can find all the necessary recommendations for growing and caring for this plant in this article.
What is passionflower, what does it look like: photos, signs and superstitions
The flower called “passionflower” is very unusual and rare. It is distinguished by incredibly beautiful flowering. It is not uncommon for a plant to have other, more well-known names:
- Passionflower
- Cavalier star
Passionflower has a smooth stem and can curl. The average plant length is ten meters . The leaves of the plant have an interesting color: they are green on top and gray below.
Passionflower blooms with fairly large flowers. Flowering has shades of purple, red and light white. In addition, the plant may have fruits that are no larger than an egg. Passionflower blooms throughout the summer ; the flowers die off only in the fall.
The name of the plant has a very interesting history. The word “passionflower” itself consists of two Latin words:
- "passio" - to suffer, suffering, suffering
- "flos" - bloom, flowers
Passion flower Passion fruit - passion fruit
The name of the plant was given in ancient times by missionaries traveling around the world and arriving in South America. It was to them that this flower seemed very symbolic, reminding them of the suffering of Christ.
themselves are very large, reaching ten centimeters in diameter. They are star shaped . Their color is bright and unusual, has many color shades. Flowers grow on long stalks.
The passionflower flower has five petals. That is why he is often compared to Christ, arguing that he had five wounds. In addition, the flower has exactly five sepals. Each bud and flower has an ovary , which contains three stigmas. There are also exactly five stamens around the stigmas.
Variety of passionflower flowers
Passionflower flowers have a very pleasant sweet aroma . Picking flowers will not allow them to remain fresh for a long time; they quickly wither.
There is a certain “language of flowers” that represents passionflower as a flower of respect and fidelity. That is why, if a man gives a woman passionflower, he promises her a long, strong relationship imbued with trust and sensuality.
Soil for passionflower
The soil for growing Passionflower should be soft, fertile and well ventilated. Stores sell ready-made soil options, for example, for lemon or begonia.
If you make the soil yourself, you need to mix deciduous or turf soil with peat and sand in equal proportions.
Advice! Make a drainage layer (2-3 cm) of crushed stone, small pebbles or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot. This drainage will remove excess moisture from the soil, protecting the plant from dampness.
How to properly care for indoor passionflower
In order for passionflower to please you with beautiful flowering and fruits, you need to know how to properly care for your homemade passionflower. Its homeland is tropical forests, so you need to try to recreate the necessary conditions for it.
Blue passionflower (passion flower) - Passiflora caerulea - is often grown as a houseplant.
Indoors it does not grow as quickly as in nature, but it pleases its owners with beautiful flowering. Because of this, passion flowers are valued by lovers of exotic plants, but such flowers “live” no more than a day. Therefore, regardless of the number of buds formed on the passionflower, they are not removed.
To grow passionflower from a seedling at home, you need to choose the right soil mixture. It should consist of turf soil, peat and sand. You can purchase a mixture for begonias, which is also suitable for the young passionflower root system.
The bottom of the pot is covered with a drainage layer: if there is no ready-made drainage purchased, you can create it yourself. To do this, you need to mix small pieces of polystyrene foam with perlite. Drainage made from equal proportions of expanded clay, pebbles and crushed stone is also suitable. This layer at the bottom of the pot should be at least 3 cm.
The ideal place for a passionflower flower in familiar home conditions is on the windowsill of a window that faces south. The plant does not tolerate stagnant air well, so in summer you can take it out into the garden or leave it on the balcony. This is an ideal location for passionflower: it requires a lot of air and light all year round. But passionflower is harmed by drafts and sudden temperature changes. The exotic plant does not like extreme heat, so it is not advisable to place it in a room with a temperature above +29˚C.
Caring for amazing passionflower in unsuitable home conditions is not limited to maintaining the correct temperature and regulating lighting. Passion flower stems need reliable support along which they can weave. Shoots several meters long are best done on trellises. They should be directed in time in the right direction of growth, because the stems quickly become woody.
Another nuance that you should pay attention to is watering: in summer it is plentiful, in winter it is limited. In winter you should water it rarely, little by little, so that the earthen lump does not dry out. In the summer heat, the air humidity around the plant is increased by spraying: in dry weather and high temperatures it is necessary daily.
Proper planting and necessary care of passionflower at home is complemented by fertilizing: from March to August it should be fed weekly. You can apply not only organic fertilizers, but also mineral supplements. Please note that the soil must be moist. Additives should not come into direct contact with the roots of the plant. It is important not to overdo it, because passionflower is very sensitive to the amount of nutrients in the substrate.
Young plants definitely need replanting: the passionflower is growing, and the root system needs a more spacious container. This procedure is an integral part of growing and caring for exotic passionflower. It allows you to renew the soil and remove rotten areas of the root.
She will definitely need pruning: before transplanting, all shoots should be cut out except two or three. Transplantation is carried out in the spring. Old plants are replanted occasionally, young plants - annually. A plant can be considered an adult after 6-8 years of growth.
At the same time, you should not choose the size of the container for the plant “in reserve”: if the pot is too large, the passionflower may begin to grow foliage and root system, and you will have to forget about flowering this year.
Video: growing Passionflower at home
Passion flower transplant
The root system and shoots of Passionflower grow rapidly. Therefore, at the initial stage it needs to be replanted every year. This is done at the end of March or early April. Adult plants need to be replanted every three years.
Before “relocating” a flower to a new place, prepare it. To do this, cut the vines by 1/3, remove dried shoots and treat the cut areas with potassium permanganate.
Pot size for Passionflower
At the very beginning of growth, the flower needs an ordinary plastic container with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. As Passionflower develops, it is necessary to select larger pots for it.
Try to choose a container so that there is a reserve of soil volume. Both plastic and ceramic pots are suitable for replanting.
Fertilizers for Passionflower
Feed the flower with organic fertilizers or mineral complexes. Dilute the fertilizer with water and water it.
This should be done in spring and summer three times a month. Every month and a half from April to September, apply foliar feeding consisting of microelements.
Advice! The plant will benefit from alternating organic and mineral fertilizers.
Pruning passionflower in spring
Timely pruning has a positive effect on the condition of the flower. This procedure helps to achieve lush branching of vines, dense foliage and abundant flowering. Prune in early spring and late autumn, when the plant has finished flowering.
Completely get rid of limp and dry shoots, and shorten old ones to five centimeters above the bud. After pruning, place the flower in a dark place for two weeks and then return it to the light.
Advice! The first pruning can be done a year after planting, when the plant is formed and strengthened.
Passionflower in winter
Most species of this plant are afraid of frost. In winter, temperatures below +12 degrees Celsius are detrimental to the flower. Therefore, try to keep the plant in a warm room and then it will not die.
Also, do not allow the soil to dry out and maintain good light levels.
Advice! Keep Passionflower away from places where there are sudden changes in temperature and drafts. It may lose all its foliage and buds.
Types of passionflower, what does the flower look like?
The most basic types of plants:
- Edible passionflower. Grows mainly in South America. Many delicious sweet drinks and desserts are prepared from the fruits of the plant. The world knows the fruit of the edible passionflower as passion fruit.
- Blue passionflower is a climbing vine with a strong stem and single flowers, quite large, blue in color. The plant has a large orange fruit.
- Passionflower is the most delicate - it has large flowers of pink shades with a diameter of up to 12 centimeters. This type of plant is distinguished by large fruits.
- Laurel-leaved passionflower - has characteristic leaves similar to a bay leaf.
- Passiflora incarnata - the plant has purple petals and bright yellow fruits.
- Passiflora graceate - has white flowers with green foliage. Flowers with a slot. The fruits have a bright red color.
- Passiflora three-stripe - has three characteristic stripes on the leaves. The flower stems are ribbed. This passionflower has pale yellow flowers and bluish-gray fruit. A distinctive feature of this plant is the lilac aroma it gives.
- The tetrahedral passionflower is the largest passionflower, reaching 15 meters in length. The flower is large, 15 centimeters in diameter. The fruits are oval with a very dense peel, edible.
Edible passionflower
Blue passionflower
The most delicate passionflower
Laurel leaf passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Passiflora graciiformes
Passiflora three-striped
Passiflora tetrahedral
Passionflower from seeds at home
The main method used for growing Passionflower. The best time for this is February and March. By creating comfortable conditions for seedlings to sprout, you will get results in two weeks.
But sometimes the plant does not germinate within the specified period. The reason is the long adaptation of seeds to the environment. In this case, seedlings may appear in one or two months.
Advice! Pre-grinding the seeds (with sandpaper) and soaking in orange or lemon juice will help reduce germination time. Also maintain moderate soil moisture and monitor the air temperature, which should not exceed 25 degrees Celsius.
Conditions for obtaining seedlings
First of all, you need to purchase fresh seeds.
This is important, since up to 30% of seeds germinate in the first year, and 2% of the seeds in the second year. The blue passionflower is the most unpretentious in propagation. It can most often be found as a home hanging crop. Prepare the substrate by mixing in equal parts:
- peat;
- sand;
- humus;
- leaf soil.
Place the soil mixture on a tray in an even thin layer and leave in a hot oven for 10 minutes. Pour the cooled sterilized soil into a bowl for germinating seeds.
Seeds can germinate for up to a year without additional processing. It is difficult to create the necessary conditions for long-term germination. Hobbyists use accelerated germination methods.
With any method, the seeds must be scarified and the upper dense shell destroyed. We suggest using one of 3 methods:
- Soak the seeds for a day with the addition of stimulants Zircon, Epin and the like. The seeds are buried 0.5 cm and germinated in the light at a temperature of 28-350 C, with bottom heating. Shoots will appear in 2 weeks for easily germinated varieties and in 3 months for varieties such as edible passionflower.
- Until germination, keep the seeds in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Soak the seeds in distilled water for a day. Delete pop-ups. Place the swollen seeds into the solution. The top shell should burst. Transfer the seeds to another tightly sealed container with a peroxide solution, and place the jar in a warm, dark place until shoots appear. You can open the jar when the sprouts appear. Remove them with a sterile instrument. For the remaining seeds, change the solution. Sprouted seeds are sown and cared for in the usual way.
- If you cover a box with seeds sown in the usual way with a film and create a constant temperature difference of up to 30 degrees during the day and up to 10 degrees at night, even the most poorly germinating seeds will germinate in 1-2 months.
Subsequently, the seedlings are planted in separate cups with a diameter of 7 cm.
Propagation of passionflower by cuttings
This method is unusual in that rooting of cuttings occurs in water. In this case, you need to place the plant in water with charcoal. Do not change the water until roots appear. The process takes up to two months.
Advice! After the roots appear, plant the plant in the ground and be sure to cover it with a greenhouse - it should get used to the new environment.
Passiflora, how does it reproduce?
Passionflower reproduces in two ways:
- Seeds
- Cuttings
Replanting a plant with seeds is much more difficult , since the seeds may become unusable during the storage period. Propagation of passionflower by cuttings is a long and careful process, since the sprouts need proper care :
- Additional lighting
- Greenhouse effect
- Exact soil ratio
- It’s good to add charcoal to the soil
- Sufficient fresh air indoors
Propagation of passionflower by cuttings
Diseases and pests
Passionflower is an unpretentious plant; it needs good lighting and minimal care.
- If the plant has slowed down and shows you yellowed leaves , then it does not have enough water.
- Lethargy of the stems indicates that the soil and air moisture is too high. Stop watering the plant for a while and take it to a dry place.
- If the vine grows and the leaves remain small , then there is not enough light. Lack of light or heat in the room also leads to the appearance of black spots on the leaves . Place the plant in a brighter, warmer location.
The main pests of the plant are spider mites and aphids . It is easy to fight the tick; you only need to carry out preventive treatment of passionflower with warm water in the fall and spring - the tick does not like humidity. To get rid of aphids, you can use a soap solution or insecticides.
Overwintering of passionflower, and why flowers shed their leaves in winter
Many gardeners are thinking about the question of how to preserve heat-loving passionflower in winter. Passion flower is native to tropical forests, so it has difficulty adapting to short daylight hours. It can grow with pronounced seasonal temperatures: in summer it loves warmth, in winter - about +10 ° C. But cold winter drafts, dry air from radiators or too high (from +16˚С) artificially maintained room temperature can cause irreparable harm to the plant.
Don't worry if your passionflower sheds its leaves over the winter: they will grow back in the spring. During the cold season, the plant cannot be replanted and watered frequently (dormant roots may rot). Despite the fact that daylight hours are becoming shorter, the passionflower is not additionally illuminated. If it is not possible to create an optimal temperature regime in winter, the plant is simply left alone, choosing the most suitable place for this in an apartment or house. The main condition is the absence of sudden temperature changes and humidity control.
If passionflower leaves quickly turn yellow, this is a signal to the owner that the plant does not have enough sunlight, or the temperature in the room is too low for exotic plants. Withered leaves can also signal that excess fertilizer has been added to the soil. In winter, it is better not to use special fertilizing for passionflower: this can lead to exotic disease.
Video: Wintering Passionflower
The plant does not actively absorb substances from the substrate, and they can provoke the process of rotting.
During the wintering period of domestic passionflower, as well as in the summer, it is periodically inspected for the presence of the first signs of pest activity, infection of the plant with spotting, scab, late blight and yellow mosaic.
Why passionflower leaves turn yellow - diseases and pests of the plant
Under natural conditions, the main pests of most passionflower species are Heliconia caterpillars. But in temperate continental climatic conditions, the plant suffers from other pests and diseases: mealybugs, spider mites and thrips cause the death of passionflower.
Proper care is not always a guarantee that an uninvited guest will not appear on the plant.
Mealybugs can settle on young shoots, in leaf axils or in buds. The pest feeds on passionflower juice and causes mold to appear. Its reproduction is facilitated by a large amount of nitrogen-based fertilizers and a favorable ambient temperature of about +26˚С.
Products containing cypermethrin, including Arrivo and Intavir, will help destroy mealybugs.
Spider mites also need passionflower cell sap to function. The leaves of a houseplant with this pest begin to turn yellow for no apparent reason, and then dry out. The presence of a mite can be identified by yellow dots on the leaves: despite its name, the pest secretes very little secretion, which forms filaments. The web can only be seen when a large number of spider mites accumulate.
Thrips are small insects of light yellow, brown or black color. It is not difficult to distinguish them from other insects: these pests move quickly, jumping to small heights. In a short time, thrips can destroy a home flower: on passionflower they quickly multiply, feeding on the juice from the leaves and flower nectar. Damaged areas of the plant become discolored and acquire a light silver tint. Small brown or brown spots can be seen on the inside of the leaf.
Sometimes the answer to the question of why the leaves of domestic passionflower turn yellow in the spring-summer season is the appearance of pests that undermine the root system or leaves.
Spider mites and thrips can be easily destroyed with special products that can be found in every flower shop. "Aktara", "Aktellik" or "Fitoverm" will do. Following the instructions on the package, the plant is processed several times. It is necessary to destroy not only pests, but also their larvae.
In addition to insects, infectious diseases can spoil the plant. Domestic passionflower is occasionally affected by late blight, scab, various types of spotting and yellow mosaic virus. It is not possible to get rid of them without harming the passionflower: the affected parts of the plant are removed, and the cut is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. They also use products to combat infectious plant diseases. For late blight, a 2-3% solution of copper sulfate or Fitosporin-M will help the plant; fungicides are used for scab. If there is no effect, the passionflower will have to be destroyed.
It is worth considering that when pests appear, you need to limit the contact of the passion flower with other plants (it is advisable to move it to another room).
Why and why exotic passionflower does not bloom at home
Passion flowers are grown for their large, irregularly shaped flowers, which can produce fragrant, bright fruits from the ovary. There are many reasons why passionflower does not bloom in suitable home conditions. It is worth remembering that a plant that is less than eight years old is unlikely to bloom. Young passionflowers need good care: timely pruning and replanting, proper feeding. Passionflower needs to gain strength for the first flowers to appear.
Passion flower leaves and shoots are regularly inspected to avoid pests. They will weaken the plant, which will prevent buds from forming.
Another reason why exotic passionflower does not bloom is insufficient light. In the tropics, daylight hours last much longer than in the temperate climate zone. Therefore, you should take care of the correct location of the plant: it should have enough sunlight.
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Passionflower medicinal properties
Passionflower is known for its medicinal properties: it has a positive effect on the nervous system, relieves insomnia, and reduces anxiety. Relieves tension during menopause in women. Helps with intestinal diseases.
Passiflora decoction
Take one tablespoon of crushed and dried leaves. Pour a glass of boiling water and place in a water bath for twenty minutes. Strain the solution and cook it until the volume is reduced by half.
Before going to bed, drink five drops of the decoction mixed with a tablespoon of water. This remedy helps eliminate problems with the nervous system.
Passionflower tincture
Place two leaves in a glass and fill with hot water. Cover with a lid and leave for fifteen minutes. Then remove the leaves.
Use one teaspoon of tincture five times a day. This remedy helps reduce cravings for alcohol.
Flower growers love to grow this exotic plant. It attracts the eye and pleases with its lush flowering. Passionflower has not only attractiveness, but also many medicinal properties.
To fully enjoy all the benefits of the plant, you need to properly care for it. Follow these tips and you will also be able to grow Passionflower at home.
