http://www.thegardener.co.za I 61T
he genus Passiflora translates
literally to ‘passion flower’. These
climbers produce some of the most
intricate and amazing flowers in an array
of different colours, and some species are
known for their lovely edible fruit – the
passion fruit or granadilla.
With more than 550 species, which
originate from the New World, this is a pretty
large and diverse group of creepers. Some
produce thin, twine-like stems with tiny
leaves and flowers, while others can be very
robust with really big flowers and fruit the
size of a gourd.
Not all the fruit are edible; in fact many
species produce dry fruit without the much-
loved pulp we use in so many desserts.
Many of these plants are grown for their
flowers rather than their fruit. The flowers
of some species only last a day, with the
longest-lasting flowers lasting only 2 – 5
days. Although the flowers do not last very
long, some of these species can be in flower
for months on end due to the number of
flowers an established plant can produce.
Some species will produce one flower per
stem while others will produce continually
elongating inflorescences where flowers are
produced on an ongoing basis.
Passion flowers make wonderful garden
specimens and can be trained to cover
a fence, pergola or arch, or just ramble
amongst large shrubs and trees. Be sure to
provide a strong enough support for these
plants as some of the more robust types can
get quite big and heavy in time. Some of the
species are pretty tough and cold resistant,
being able to grow well in the colder parts of
our country, while others are more sensitive
and should be planted only in the more sub-
tropical areas. These plants have a fibrous
root system and do not take well to having
their roots disturbed. It is best to cover the
soil around the base of the plant with a layer
of mulch for protection. Most species prefer
fertile, well-drained soil and grow well with
a regular addition of fertiliser, whether as a
granular application or in the form of a foliar
feed. A good spring pruning will rejuvenate
the plants and allow for fewer leafless
woody stems and more flowers.
http://www.plantae.co.zaNOTE
There are some species of
Passiflora that can become
invasive. The varieties in this
article are sterile hybrids
grown primarily for their
flowers. Amongst the listed
varieties, the common
commercial fruit-baring
granadilla or passion fruit,
Passiflora edulis, has a
category 2 invasive status in
the Eastern Cape, Gauteng,
North West, KwaZulu-
Natal and Limpopo, and so
cannot be grown without
a permit. See invasives.org.
za for a list of all the alien
invader plants in South
Africa.Passiflora vitifolia Passiflora racemosa Passiflora foetidaPassiflora aurantia Passiflora ‘Elegante’ Passiflora ‘Amethyst ’