7 pink-flowered passion flowers to brighten up the garden

Passionflower 'Victoria' - Passiflora Victoria

Passiflora ‘Victoria’ forms a vigorous twining climber that offers a spectacular summer flowering. Its abundant flowers, 10 cm in diameter, are a vivid pink with a slightly bluish tinge: they feature mauve-pink tepals and a corona of filaments alternating purple at the centre and white at the tips, with a green heart of stamens. Although each flower lasts only a short time, they continually appear. In autumn, this variety sometimes produces orange fruits, similar to those of Passiflora caerulea, which are more of a curiosity than something to eat.

Very vigorous, this passionflower is the result of the cross-breeding between Passiflora racemosa and Passiflora caerulea. It can reach up to 5 metres in height at maturity, but is only moderately hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -7°C. Its dark, glossy green foliage disappears with the cold.

This climbing plant appreciates supports such as walls or trellises, to which it clings with its tendrils. Ideal for southern regions and areas near the Loire, Passiflora ‘Victoria’ thrives in full sun or partial shade, sheltered from cold and drying winds. It grows best in ordinary well-drained soil.

Passion flower 'Exoniensis' - Passiflora antioquiensis x tripartita var. mollissima Exoniensis

The Passiflora (x) exoniensis is an elegant hybrid passionflower created in Exeter, Devon, England. It is presumably the result of cross-breeding between Passiflora antioquiensis and P. tripartita var. mollissima. It bears large pendulous flowers in vivid rose-red. Due to its frost sensitivity down to -4°C, it is suited to regions with mild winters or can be grown as a houseplant in a conservatory or veranda.

The Passiflora (x) exoniensis has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It features a vigorous growth and climbs to 5–6 metres thanks to its tendrils if grown in favourable conditions. Its lush leaves, sometimes entire, sometimes divided into three lobes, support spectacular 10–12 cm flowers pendulous on long peduncles. In summer, these flowers give way to yellow, oval fruits, edible and tasty, if the plant is pollinated.

It thrives in cool and well-drained soil, in partial shade or subdued light, as it dislikes scorching summers. It thrives in very mild winter climates, not too hot and not too dry in summer.

Passionflower 'Pink Passion' - Passiflora x insignis 'Pink Passion'

Passiflora x insignis ‘Pink Passion’ is a remarkable and rare hybrid variety, with star-shaped double flowers in a bright, fresh pink. This liana reaches a height of 2 to 3 metres, and is ideal for pot culture on a terrace or in a conservatory, or in the ground in regions where temperatures do not fall below -5°C.

Robust and vigorous, ‘Pink Passion’ tolerates hot summers well and clings easily thanks to its tendrils. It bears glossy dark green leaves, three-lobed with pointed lobes, and flowers abundantly from late April to September. The large double flowers, 10 cm in diameter, are composed of bright pink tepals and sepals, with a central crown of white filaments and dark violet at the base, and a heart of green-yellow stamens. After pollination, it produces rare oval orange fruits that are inedible.

Adapted to well-drained, light and fairly deep soils, Passiflora ‘Pink Passion’ prefers sunny, sheltered sites. Ideal for southern and Atlantic regions, this passionflower embellishes walls, fences, trellises and lattices, and also thrives in a conservatory during cold winters.

Passionflower 'Anastasia' - Passiflora gritensis x caerulea 'Constance Elliott' Anastasia

Passion flower ‘Anastasia’, a hybrid variety resulting from the cross between P. gritensis and P. caerulea ‘Constance Elliott’, is a real marvel in the garden. This climbing, compact vine, reaching 2–3 metres in height, bears large flowers 10–12 cm in diameter, in an intense and vivid pink with a reddish crown and white filaments. Perfect for mild climates, it prefers partial shade and should be brought indoors when temperatures fall below 5°C.

Leaves, typically three to five lobed, oval and dark glossy green, remain largely evergreen. Flowering lasts from late spring to early autumn, producing flowers that are not particularly fragrant, but highly attractive to pollinators.

This passionflower is undemanding and grows easily in any well-drained, light and fairly deep soil, without being too dry in summer. It appreciates sheltered and partially shaded positions, particularly in southern and Atlantic regions where it can avoid the full sun of hot summers. With its compact habit, ‘Anastasia’ is also ideal for conservatories, where it can overwinter without issue.

Passionflower 'Aurora' - Passiflora foetida × sublanceolata 'Aurora'

Breeder Maurizio Vecchia’s creation, the passion flower ‘Aurora’ is a relatively new and uncommon hybrid variety. It is distinguished by its bright pink flowers that open early in the morning. Compact, it reaches a height of 2 to 3 metres and is perfectly suited to pot culture on a terrace or under a veranda.

‘Aurora’ features slender stems bearing dark glossy green, three-lobed pointed leaves. Flowering lasts from late spring to autumn, with large 8 cm in diameter flowers that continually renew themselves. The flowers have bright pink tepals and matching sepals, terminated by a short spur. The central crown is composed of white filaments with a dark purple base and light purple tips, and green stamens at the heart. The shape of the flower has evolved to prevent self-pollination. The inedible fruits, oval and bright red when ripe, are rare.

Cultured in well-drained, light and fairly deep soil, ‘Aurora’ prefers sunny, sheltered locations. Pruning after flowering helps to maintain an elegant habit. It thrives in the ground in areas where temperatures do not fall below -8°C.

Passiflora caerulea x racemosa - Passiflora caerulea x racemosa

The Passiflora caerulea x racemosa is a robust hybrid, from the same cross-breeding as the famous ‘Amethyst’ variety. Resistant to -5°C, it is distinguished by its medium-sized flowers, reminiscent of those of the blue passionflower, but in a deep pink shade with a corona of purple and white filaments.

Originating from South America and naturalised in the south of France, the P. caerulea was cross-bred with the P. racemosa, which is Brazilian and bears purple flowers in racemes to produce the Passiflora caerulea x racemosa. It can reach a height of 8 to 10 metres and spread to 4 metres.

Its quadrangular stems bear glossy, dark green leaves, sometimes copper-toned, and divided into three to five lobes. The flowering, very lightly scented, features pink tepals and a central corona striped yellow or purple, reminiscent of a passion fruit. Once pollinated, the flowers give rise to rare oval orange fruits at ripeness, most often hollow.

Easy to grow, Passiflora caerulea x racemosa requires well-drained, light and fairly deep soil, and enjoys a sunny, sheltered exposure. Ideal for planting in open ground in regions with mild climates, it is also highly valued in conservatories, where it will withstand the cold winters unscathed.

Passion flower 'Marijke' - Passiflora decaisneana x caerulea 'Marijke'

The Passionflower ‘Marijke’ is a remarkable hybrid variety resulting from the cross between the Passiflora decaisneana and the P. caerulea, giving rise to a climbing liana with large, fragrant flowers in a deep magenta-purple, beautifully highlighted by indigo-blue filaments ringed with white. With a modest height of 3 to 4 metres, ‘Marijke’ is ideal for pot cultivation on a terrace or in a conservatory, and needs to be brought indoors when temperatures fall below -2°C.

Its long stems bear glossy, mid-green leaves, divided into three oval lobes and somewhat evergreen. The flowering extends from July to early autumn, with 12 cm in diameter flowers that continually renew themselves. The fragrant flowers are highly prized by pollinators.

Easy to grow, the Passiflora ‘Marijke’ thrives in well-drained, light and fairly deep soil, not too dry in summer. It prefers sunny, sheltered locations. Once again, this Passionflower is perfectly suited to conservatories or greenhouses where it can overwinter without damage.