PlantFiles: Wild Yellow Passion Flower, Passionflower
Passiflora lutea

Passiflora lutea is actually the hardiest of all passiflora species. It is probably a zone 5 plant. It is native to the Southeast, ranging from the coasts north to Pennsylvania and Ohio and west to Kansas.

Having never seen this plant before in my area of Northeast Tennessee, it took some time to finally identify it. It started as a single vine that sprouted mysteriously out of a dying Japanese Yew that was planted in my yard four years ago. I suspect it was the result of a bird dropping from a fruit that was eaten in another area. The vine only wanted to grow vertically with a peculiar nodding habit. It eventually took over the dying yew and in each subsequent year has sprouted more and more shoots from an obviously stoloniferous habit.

This year it has sprouted more than thirty vines in an area of approximately six square feet. They stand about three feet vertically above the yew bush and will probably start falling over soon and blanketing the bushes. They draw multitudes of bees and small wasps to the abundant nickel-sized pale yellow flowers in mid-Summer as well as Gulf Fritallary caterpillars. They have an interesting small fruit that is pea-sized and almost black in color. The fruits have to be handled carefully as they will leave you with a very dark purple blackberry-like stain that doesn't wash off easily. The seeds are typical of Passifloras although smaller than P. incarnata. They would be nice plants if located in a suitable area. Where they are now qualifies them as a weed. I don't know if they can be propogated other than by seeds.

Found growing wild north of Houston, TX. Pretty flowers, with interestingly shaped (almost grape-like) leaves.

I found this growing under one of my oak trees. I found it because the Zebra long-winged butterfly was fluttering all around. With the help of a friend, we found the base of it and wound it around 2 small oak tree that were growing. I bent them over and tied to make a trellis. I looks real nice and full this year. I have my children (homeschool) study the butterfly cycle from laying eggs, to caterpillar to butterflies. I have some great pictures of the butterflies mating while in the chrysalis. It flowers regularly and produces green grape-like fruit which turns purple when ripe. Easy to grow from seed. Birds and squirrels must like the seed because they disappear quickly off the plant.

We have just found this plant in my mother's yard alongside a fence in the shade. It took me forever to identify it. I think it is beautiful but don't want to encourage it if it is an obnoxious weed. It doesn't seem to be aggresive......yet.

This plant is weedy, but interesting. The blooms are tiny and greenish colored, but have a slight sweet fragrance. I wouldn't plant it, but I enjoy it when it volunteers. (The bloom is about the size of a quarter, or smaller)