Passiflora caerulea seeds

Passiflora caerulea, also known as passionflower or blue passion flower, is a vigorous perennial climbing plant, fairly hardy and semi-evergreen, clinging to its support with its tendrils. It produces in summer curious and fragrant flowers, quite large, in white-blue, adorned with a double collar of tricoloured filaments, blue, white, and purple, followed after a hot summer by orange, edible but bland fruits. This highly decorative climber can be cultivated in temperate regions due to its good frost resistance. It should be grown in the sun, in well-drained ordinary soil, even limestone.

The blue passion flower is a plant of the Passifloraceae family, native to South America. This evergreen to semi-evergreen climber shows rapid growth, reaching a height of 9 metres (29 feet) in mild climates, but it will not exceed 5 or 6 metres (16 or 20 feet) in cooler climates. In summer, it is adorned with beautiful round flowers, 8cm (3in) in diameter, composed of a row of white-blue petals, topped with a collar of tricoloured filaments arranged on 2 levels, purple in the centre, white in the middle, and pale blue on the outer edge. In the centre of the flower, there is a column, 8 to 10mm (0in) tall, bearing the stamens and pistil. Flowering occurs from May to June until September. It is accompanied by a gentle fragrance reminiscent of monoi. Flowering is followed by the formation of orange fruits, the size of an egg, which are edible but not very tasty.

The blue passion flower is perfect for covering fences, trellises, unsightly fences, or old sunlit walls, to the south or west. Provide it with a sheltered position from the wind. It is an excellent companion for other climbing plants. It is also possible to plant annuals and perennials at its base, or to let it climb in bushes.