PlantFiles: Passion Flower, Passionflower
Passiflora x belotii 'Imperatrice Eugenie'

This variety (a hybrid of P. alata and P. caerulea) has been growing successfully against a block wall in my garden for many years. It has been exposed to occasional frosts here in Hemet, California (U.S.) as well as prolonged periods of extreme heat (105°F+) during the summer months. Last year (2001) it was exposed to three straight nights of 29°-33°F temps without cover. Naturally many of the more exposed leaves and stems died back but the plant rebounded in the spring/summer 2002 very well. I consider this plant to be one of the hardier Passiflora species. In addition, the flowers are beautiful and fragrant, and bloom throughout the summer and early fall.

I have seen this variety for sale at nurseries as P. alato-caerulea and/or P. pfordtii instead of the more recently accepted P. x belotii

Gulf Fritillary butterflies (Agraulis vannillae) commonly (and exclusively) utilize this and other Passiflora species as a larval host plant.

Passiflora x belotii 'Imperatrice Eugenie' (the name was devoted to the wife of Emperor Napoleon III. of France) is one of the most beautiful Passion Flowers. The fragance of the very ornamental flowers (that are larger than those of Passiflora coerulea) is very delicate and the whole flowering plant looks very "romantic". It should be placed in a way that the flowers are looked at from a near distance because the colours are not bright. The culture and propagation by cuttings is rather easy, but in my experience this Passion Flower is far more sensitive to cold temperature as it is stated above. In winter at best it should be kept in a cool place, but protected from frost.