Passiflora Aurora - Passion Flower

The Passiflora 'Aurora' results from the passionate work of Italian breeder and passionflower collector Maurizio Vecchia. This fairly recent and rare hybrid variety offers flowers in a bright pink colour, like the sky at dawn, and blooms early in the morning, hence its name. It forms a climber that reaches only 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet), making it suitable for pot cultivation on a terrace, under a veranda, or in the ground wherever temperatures do not drop below -8°C (17.6°F).

Mostly native to tropical areas of South America, passionflowers belong to the large family of Passifloraceae, which includes 400 species and numerous spontaneous or horticultural hybrids.

'Aurora' is a robust and vigorous plant that tolerates hot summers. Rambling, it clings to its support using tendrils, reaching a height of 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet). It is characterized by its slender stems adorned with leaves divided into 3 pointed lobes of a shiny dark green colour. Its flowering lasts from late spring to autumn, with large flowers measuring about 8 cm (3in) in diameter that constantly renew on the plant. These flowers are composed of bright pink petals and sepals of the same colour, ending in a short spur at their tip. The central crown comprises short white filaments (2 cm (1in)), dark purple at their base and light purple at the tip. Green stamens occupy the centre. The shape of the flower evolves: petals and sepals curl, while the crown of filaments folds and then straightens, to avoid self-pollination. Once pollinated, the flowers give way to a few rare inedible fruits, oval in shape, bright red when ripe, measuring 3.5 cm (1in) in length and 2.5 cm (1in) in width.

This hardy passionflower, able to withstand temperatures as low as -8°C (17.6°F), grows in well-drained, light, fairly deep and not too dry soil, in a sunny and sheltered location. At the end of flowering, pruning consists of reducing the branches to maintain an attractive habit. It thrives in all southern and Atlantic regions. With its height of 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet) and generous exotic flowering, the 'Aurora' passionflower is a wonderful plant for dressing walls, fences, trellises, and porches. It is also ideal for conservatories where it will safely survive cold winters.