Passiflora Damsels Delight- Passion Flower

The Passiflora 'Damsel's Delight' is a new hybrid variety of passionflower with the same qualities of robustness and hardiness as its presumed parent, the Passiflora caerulea. While this vigorous vine bears a strong resemblance to its parent, it surpasses it in terms of its flowering, which is both more spectacular and more colourful. Its flower, measuring up to 12cm (5in) in diameter, captivates the eye with a central crown of tricoloured filaments forming a target, or a large open eye with three well-defined chromatic circles. Its foliage, thick and glossy dark green, deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on the climate, is an additional asset for quickly hiding a wire fence or an unsightly barrier. Whether planted in the ground or in a pot, it thrives in full sun and fertile, deep, and moisture-retaining soil.

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.

'Damsel's Delight' is one of them, obtained in the United Kingdom by the renowned passionflower breeder Myles Irvine and recently introduced to the market. This voluble plant clings to its support with tendrils, reaching heights of over 4m (13ft). It is characterised by its quadrangular stems adorned with thick, five-lobed, glossy dark green leaves, which may be more or less evergreen. Its slightly fragrant flowering peaks in June, continuing sporadically until late summer. The flowers of this variety are very large, measuring over 10cm (4in) in diameter, but only last for a day. They consist of large white ovoid petals washed with lilac, with a central crown of filaments streaked with very dark violet, white, and vibrant blue. The nail-shaped stamen cluster is green. The unusual shape of the flower evolves: the petals and sepals curl, while the filament crown folds and then straightens to avoid self-pollination. This hybrid variety produces very few fruits, which are like large orange eggs containing a not very tasty flesh composed of small vesicles.

This evergreen Passionflower, hardy to -8°C (17.6°F), is resilient due to its stump and thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil that is not too dry, in a sunny and sheltered location. Pruning at the end of flowering consists of reducing the branches to maintain an attractive habit. It thrives in all southern and Atlantic regions, alongside other beautiful vines such as Holboellia coriacea, Mandevilla laxa, and Hardenbergia violacea. With its height of 4 to 7m (13 to 23ft) and its sumptuous and highly exotic flowering, the Passiflora 'Damsel's Delight' is used to adorn walls, fences, wire mesh, porches, and trellises. It is also highly appreciated in conservatories, where it can withstand the coldest winters without damage.