Passiflora White Lightning- Passion Flower

The Passiflora 'White Lightning' is a hybrid passion flower derived from the Blue Passion Flower, from which it has inherited good hardiness. Its beautiful white flowers have a multicoloured centre, with bluish filaments, stamens, and pistils mixing yellow, green, and dark purple. Moderately vigorous, this climbing plant will quickly cover a trellis. Moderately hardy, this passion flower can be grown in open ground in regions with not-too-cold winters. Elsewhere, it will make a beautiful conservatory plant or should be protected during winter if it spends the summer outdoors.

Mostly native to tropical areas of South America, Passion Flowers belong to the Passifloraceae family, the best-known genus. This genus includes more than 500 species and numerous spontaneous or horticultural hybrids. Mostly tropical plants, but also subtropical for some species that can survive winter in the mildest regions, in sheltered areas.

The Passiflora caerulea is one of the hardiest, able to withstand temperatures around -12°C. 'Constance Elliot' is a well-known variety for its pure white flowers. And from the cross-breeding between Passiflora caerulea and its variety 'Constance Elliot', 'White Lightning' was born, which presents an intermediate flower between its two parents. It has inherited the 10 white petals and sepals from 'Constance Elliot', while the centre of the flower is closer to the species P. Caerulea. The crown of fine decorative filaments in Passion Flowers is dark purple at the base, then white in the intermediate part, and finally bluish at the tip, vaguely resembling a British cockade... The central sexual floral parts are, for the stamens, in green tones and, for the pistil, purple striped, thus contrasting nicely with the white of the petals and sepals. This very sophisticated floral ensemble contributes to the fascination exerted by this plant, which has been associated with the passion of Christ for several centuries, with each floral element being credited with a particular meaning (the Apostles, the nails of the crucifixion...). In White Lightning, the flowers are quite large, reaching 9 cm (4in) in diameter. They are well highlighted by the deeply lobed leaves, dark green and somewhat glossy. These leaves are semi-evergreen, depending on winter conditions.

The 'White Lightning' passion flower is a fast-growing climbing plant that attaches to its support using tendrils, reaching a height of up to 3.50 or 4 m (11 or 13ft) in favourable conditions, with a width of about 2 m (7ft). It will have more modest dimensions when grown in a container and can be pruned to limit its growth. The well-protected stump of this passion flower can withstand temperatures around -5°C to -10°C.

The 'White Lightning' Passion Flower grows in rich, moist, well-drained soil in sunny or partially shaded locations. It thrives in mild climates in winter and not too dry in summer. This climbing plant will be very decorative when trained on a wire mesh or trellis. It must be brought indoors during winter in an unheated conservatory or a sufficiently bright garage in colder climates. To create a scene evoking distant lands, plant it alongside other exotic-looking plants, such as the famous Musa basjoo, a hardy ornamental banana tree known for its good hardiness. Among palm trees, the Trachycarpus wagnerianus, a compact windmill palm, is a good choice. And among climbers, you can associate it with the surprising Campsis capreolate, a Trumpet Creeper with red and yellow bicoloured flowers that emit a sweet chocolate fragrance that will delight young and old alike!