Passiflora Violacea- Passion Flower

The Passiflora Violacea, also known as P.amethystina or P. 'Amethyst' is perhaps the oldest known horticultural hybrid among passionflowers. Still widely planted in mild climate gardens, it is universally appreciated for its robustness and good cold resistance. This beautiful liana is vigorous and vibrant when its medium-sized flowers appear, resembling its parent, the blue passionflower, but more colourful in a deep blue-violet tone, sometimes marked with white or black. They are lightly scented, occasionally producing hollow fruits, and bloom from June to October on dark green lobed foliage, which may or may not be evergreen. Plant it in a sunny, sheltered location with loose and deep soil. Success is guaranteed, whether in the garden or on the terrace!

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 Passiflora (x) Violacea is an ancient horticultural hybrid obtained in 1824 by Loiseleur-Deslongchamps, a French botanist and nurseryman. This variety results from cross-breeding between the P. caerulea, native to South America and naturalised in the south of France, and the P. racemosa, from Brazil, with purple flowers in racemes. This excellent variety has received an Award of Garden Merit, a distinction awarded in England by the RHS for its ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation.

'Violacea' is a voluble plant with persistent stems that cling to its support using tendrils, reaching a height of 4m (13ft) and spreading over 3m (10ft). It is characterized by its quadrangular stems adorned with thick, oval-shaped, dark green lobed leaves, sometimes washed with coppery reflections, which may or may not be evergreen. Its flowering extends from summer to early autumn, with flowers measuring 5-6cm (2in) in diameter that constantly bloom on the plant, more abundantly in full sun. The flowers, lightly scented, have mauve-violet petals, with the central crown more or less streaked with white or black. The stamen cluster is cream-green. The unusual shape of the ephemeral flower evolves petals and sepals curl, while the filament crown folds and straightens to avoid self-pollination. Once pollinated, the flowers give way to rare oval and orange fruits measuring 5 to 6 cm (2in) long. These fruits are mostly hollow.

This Passionflower is not a fussy and difficult plant to grow like some orchids. It grows easily in well-drained, light, fairly deep soil that is not too dry in summer, and blooms generously in sunny and sheltered locations. At the end of flowering, pruning involves reducing the branches to maintain a beautiful shape. With its height of 4 to 5m (13 to 16ft) and exotic and generous flowering, the Passiflora Violacea is a wonderful plant for covering walls, fences, trellises, and porches or weaving through hedges. It is also highly appreciated in verandas, where it will withstand cold winters without damage. Enthusiasts of exotic vines will also cultivate the Podranea ricasoliana (pink trumpet vine) and Mandevilla laxa, with large white and fragrant flowers. All three can endure short freezes of around -8°C (17.6°F) without weakening.