Passiflora Panda- Passion Flower

The 'Panda' Passionflower is a hybrid passionflower with stunning large white flowers and a dark purple heart. One look is enough to understand the origin of its name! This very floriferous and fragrant vine, only 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) tall, is suitable for container cultivation on a terrace or under a veranda, or in open ground wherever temperatures do not drop below -2°C (28.4°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.

The Panda Passionflower is a hybrid from 2006 with a complex parentage, resulting from remarkable selection work by the German Dr. Roland Fischer, a specialist in these beautiful vines. It is a cross between two popular varieties created by the same breeder: P. 'Monika Fischer' (purple with a dark purple heart) and P. 'White Wedding' (white). 'Panda' is a robust and easy-to-grow plant, loving sunny and warm locations, but fearing temperatures below -2°C (28.4°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. Voluble, it clings to its support with tendrils, reaching 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet). It is characterised by its sturdy stems adorned with large, lobed, and toothed leaves of shiny medium green. Its flowering extends from spring to autumn in large flowers approximately 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5in) in diameter, constantly repeating on the plant. Pearly white sepals and petals form these flowers with a light lavender hue, topped by a crown of shiny white filaments and greenish stamens. The dark purple heart leans towards black, giving the flower a recognisable "eye-catching" appearance.

This Passionflower, hardy down to -2°C (28.4°F) (a well-established plant that will tolerate short periods of frost down to -5°C (23°F)), grows in any 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 a beautiful habit. With its height of 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) and generous exotic flowering, the 'Panda' passionflower is a wonderful plant to adorn walls, fences, grills, porches, and trellises. It will also be highly appreciated in verandas, where it will safely pass through cold winters.