Passiflora Byron Beauty- Passion Flower

The Passiflora 'Byron Beauty' is a vigorous hybrid passionflower, notable for its improbable, large fringed violet flowers. This variety is highly floriferous and has the advantage of flowering quite early in the year. It forms a 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft) tall climber and is therefore suitable for cultivation in a pot on a terrace, under a veranda, or in the ground wherever temperatures do not drop below 5°C (41°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.

'Byron Beauty' is a 1989 hybrid with a complex parentage (the first tetraploid passionflower variety), resulting from a remarkable selection of work by American Dr. Robert Knight. This robust and easy-to-grow climbing plant likes sunny and warm situations, but is sensitive to temperatures below 5°C (41°F). Fortunately, it has a fairly compact growth habit so it will be very happy cultivated in a large pot on a terrace that can be brought indoors in winter. Climbing, it attaches itself to its support using tendrils, reaching 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft). It is characterised by its sturdy stems adorned with leaves divided into 3 pointed and toothed lobes of a shiny dark green colour. Its flowering extends from spring to autumn in the form of large flowers measuring 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in) in diameter that constantly repeat on the plant. These flowers are formed by white sepals and petals, completely covered by a crown of dark violet filaments at their base, gradually becoming pearly white towards their very frizzy tips. Green stamens occupy the centre. They emit a sweet fragrance reminiscent of pansies. Once pollinated (provided there are other passionflowers nearby as this variety is self-sterile), the flowers give way to edible fruits, oval and yellow when ripe, measuring 5cm (2in) in length and without seeds.

This Passion Flower, hardy up to 5°C (41°F) (a well-established plant will tolerate short periods of very light frost) grows in any well-drained, light, fairly deep and not too dry soil, in a sunny and sheltered position. At the end of flowering, pruning consists of reducing the branches to maintain a beautiful habit. With its height of 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft) and generous exotic flowering, the 'Byron Beauty' passionflower is a wonderful plant for dressing up walls, fences, trellises, porches, and pergolas. It is also highly appreciated in verandas, where it will safely pass through cold winters.