Duo of Passiflora

A pair of hardy passionflowers, with a crown capable of withstanding -12 °C. It brings together the vigorous species Passiflora caerulea with blue flowers and the hybrid variety incarnata 'Snow Star' with white flowers that produce edible fruits. These two climbers bloom from June to October, their large, exotic flowers exude a sweet fruity fragrance. They are loved by pollinating insects. These two passionflowers will enhance a wire fence, a pergola or an arbour. They like hot summers and thrive in well-drained soil, not too dry in summer and not too wet in winter. Can be grown in pots or in the ground.

This pair is composed of:

1 x Passiflora caerulea: a vigorous South American species called blue passionflower. It is capable of reaching over 7 m long in mild climates and its stems turn woody with age. It blooms continuously from June to October. Its 6 to 8 cm flowers are composed of 5 bluish-white petals topped with a double crown of tricoloured filaments, bluish-violet on the periphery, white in the centre, and purple at the base. Its ovoid and soft fruits are orange when ripe but are not very tasty. This passionflower is impractical in the Mediterranean and will appeal to more northern gardeners who can appreciate its exotic charm without being overwhelmed by its exuberance. Resistant to summer drought in the ground.

1 x Passiflora incarnata 'Snowstar': a herbaceous hybrid variety, behaving like a perennial, reaching a height of 3 to 4 m. It produces white flowers in July-August with a diameter of 8-9 cm adorned with long filaments, and then edible fruits the size and colour of an egg, yellow when ripe, in September-October. Their flesh is comparable to that of the passion fruits found in our markets.

These two passionflowers have a crown hardy down to -10/-12 °C, after 2 or 3 years of cultivation. It is very important to protect their crown from cold and humidity during the first two winters. They are sun and heat-loving plants so should be planted sheltered from cold and drying winds. Plant them in deep, well-worked and well-drained, rich soil, rather moist in summer, not too wet in winter. They can be planted in the ground in the south, elsewhere, give them in a protected location, with good winter mulching. Respect a spacing of 1.50 m between two plants. Place them on a support to support the weight of their vegetation and secure the branches well onto the support. Pruning before winter is recommended to maintain reasonable dimensions. You can prune the main branches to facilitate growth. At the beginning of spring, remove dead stems near the crown. In a greenhouse or conservatory, beware of scale insects and whiteflies, as well as cucumber mosaic virus. Treat preventively.

This pair of hardy passionflowers will work well to dress up walls, fences, wire mesh, porches, and trellises, preferably by associating them with an evergreen vine that will provide permanent decoration in winter (Clematis cirrhosa, Hardenbergia violacea, Variegated Ivy). They can also be planted against a persistent or deciduous hedge, to which they will bring originality in summer. The passionflower is also highly appreciated in conservatories where it will live through very cold winters without damage.