Passiflora Species, Blue Passion Flower, Hardy Passion Flower, Blue Crown Passion Vine
Passiflora caerulea
Family: | Passifloraceae (pas-ih-flor-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Passiflora (pass-iff-FLOR-uh) (Info) |
Species: | caerulea (see-ROO-lee-uh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Passiflora loureiroi |
Synonym: | Passiflora selloi |

Category:
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Deciduous
Herbaceous
Smooth
Textured
Foliage Color:
Medium Green
Height:
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
Blue-Violet
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From hardwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
Seed Collecting:
Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Lincoln, (258 reports)
Porthleven,
Alabaster, Alabama
Anniston, Alabama
Fairhope, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
Headland, Alabama
Jones, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
New Market, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Casa Grande, Arizona
Chandler Heights, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona(2 reports)
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Chowchilla, California
Citrus Heights, California
Clayton, California
Elk Grove, California
Fountain Valley, California
Fremont, California
Fresno, California
Los Angeles, California(2 reports)
Merced, California
Richmond, California
Sacramento, California
San Clemente, California
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California(2 reports)
San Leandro, California
Clifton, Colorado
Daytona Beach, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Holiday, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Nokomis, Florida
Ocoee, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Rockledge, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
Decatur, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Patterson, Georgia
Winterville, Georgia
Boise, Idaho
Herrin, Illinois
Mount Hope, Kansas
Barbourville, Kentucky
Clinton, Louisiana
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana
Metairie, Louisiana
Slaughter, Louisiana
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Saucier, Mississippi
Saint Louis, Missouri
Lincoln, Nebraska
Pahrump, Nevada
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Averill Park, New York
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina(2 reports)
Bucyrus, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Portland, Oregon(3 reports)
Saint Helens, Oregon
Som, Somogy
Bluffton, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
Conway, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
North Augusta, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
Clarksville, Tennessee
Lafayette, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Austin, Texas(2 reports)
Dallas, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(3 reports)
Garland, Texas
Houston, Texas
Humble, Texas
Killeen, Texas
Meridian, Texas
Nome, Texas
Sugar Land, Texas
Weatherford, Texas(2 reports)
, Tirol
South Jordan, Utah
Lexington, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Camas, Washington
Kalama, Washington
Kirkland, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Puyallup, Washington(2 reports)
Seattle, Washington
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Negative | On Dec 31, 2017, GAGARD from Decatur, GA (Zone 7b) wrote: Terribly invasive. |
Neutral | On Apr 21, 2017, malsprower from Daytona, FL wrote: Do not grow this in the ground. It will spread underground far and wide everywhere. Please don't repeat my mistake so just plant this in a pot! Flowers are beautiful but mine will not fruit! It just makes a mess. I won't give it a negative because of its pretty flowers but I give it a neutral because it will not fruit. |
Positive | On Dec 14, 2015, allranger from Boise, ID wrote: The plant is much more cold hardy than I expected it to be. Survived an Idaho winter of 10 F (-12 C) and didn't loose any leaves. I went out one day after we had freezing rain/sleet/snow and the whole thing was encased in ice and falling over. I figured that was going to be the end of it but it is still alive. |
Positive | On Apr 11, 2015, Lil_rag_doll from San Jose, CA wrote: I'm in San Jose, California and we have quite warm temperate weather here. I planted my blue Passion flowers from seeds taken from the fruit of a blooming plant. I had them in a 2' pot for about 2 years where they only managed to get about 3' tall. When I moved I planted them in the ground and they took off running! My plant is now about 12' long and have finally started blossoming. The first year it filled in and grew, we had a whole hoard of caterpillars eat away the leaves, leaving the vines bare. I took that as an oppertunity to wind them around a chicken wire trellace so they would be up off the ground. Worked like a charm and a few weeks after having the leaves eaten off they started to fill in again. Now the blossoms have started and I'm seeing new baby caterpillars and eggs on the ... read more |
Neutral | On Sep 14, 2014, ang3L from Merced, CA wrote: I am from Merced CA and we have a very Mediterranean (cool wet non snowy winters where grass grows followed by 6 hot months without rain) climate here. |
Positive | On Mar 7, 2014, Corsetiere from Columbus, OH wrote: We started our passionflowers from seed and they took FOREVER to germinate! I literally was about to throw the whole thing in the trash but my boyfriend convinced me to wait another week and then they finally sprouted. So if you're thinking of giving up, just wait a while longer. It was an unusually long time before ours finally came to life! Now they are growing wildly indoors, in pots. I hope we will get some blooms this summer! |
Negative | On Oct 8, 2012, woofess from Upper Swan, FM (Zone 10a) wrote: This plant has taken over our garden. It throws up suckers everywhere, strangling shrubs and trees. I did not plant this passionfruit, so I suspect it is the root stock of a grafted one that died. The flowers, of course, are really beautiful, but are not worth it, due to its aggressive nature. I live in a warm mediterranean climate. I suspect it is much less agressive in cooler areas. |
Positive | On Jul 19, 2012, AndyBonsai from other, i have my plant for a few years now and it grows and flowers like crazy. my experience is that this plant doesn´t grow well without much heat and sun. it loves sun and heat, it seems that it can never be to hot for this plant. my plant stands in a green house and grows easily 5+m in one growing season (i´m located in the temperature climate). in the summer some places in the greenhouse are so hot that you burn your hands when you touch them. i can´t understand how plant part of this species can survive there, they look all very healthy and even seem to like it there. |
Positive | On Oct 25, 2010, kacton from Hasbrouck Heights, NJ wrote: We've had a tropical passionflower for many years that we take inside for the winter. I was pleased to find a hardy variety this year. I planted it in full sun, although the bottom of the plant gets shade from a rose bush. I am using it to cover a clothesline pole that is cemented in our garden and stands about 20 feet tall. My plan this spring is to cover the entire pole with chicken wire so the passionflower goes straight up it. It's very powerful so you have to be careful not to let it grab onto anything else. It grows fast. I planted it in July and it's taller than me already. I will mulch the base of the plant and hope to see it again in the spring. |
Positive | On Aug 9, 2010, papabotts from Millburn, NJ wrote: Being a landscaper I'm always looking for interesting additions to make my clients gardens more unique. I got a blue passion flower (Passiflora Caerules) grown by Monrovia who apparently has the real secret to the finest in organic soils/growth mediums. Because only in a 5 gallon pot. I had two of them completely cover the other in growth to the point I got tired of trying to separate them and clipped the last few. They are both covered in blooms and the one I planted on a trellis 3 days ago has already grown 10 inches in 72 hours! |
Neutral | On Jun 27, 2010, peejay12 from Porthleven, Helston, Cornwall, This plant is far, far hardier in the US than in the UK. |
Neutral | On Aug 15, 2009, SusanLouise from Lincoln, NE (Zone 5b) wrote: I thought this plant was lovely, but it didn't attract as many butterflies to it as I was hoping it would...since I purchased it for the sole purpose of it being a host plant. Although we had several males of various Fritillary butterfly species (Variegated, Regal, and the Great Spangled), there were no females around to lay eggs. I will experiment next year with this Hardy Blue Passion Vine on one side of our yard and the Maypop Passion Vine on the other side and see if there is a difference in it's attractiveness for the butterflies next year...it should prove to be interesting! |
Positive | On Jul 13, 2009, khabbab from lahore, I am growing it in a clay pot and it has not bloomed yet. i think our summer heat of 100F+ is too much for it to make blooms. anyway, i have kept its root cool by mulching and it receives full sun. It is growing very fast through its tendrils but no blooms so far. I have avoided fertilizing it as it requires poor soil to bloom but no avail. its size is 4 feet high now. |
Neutral | On Sep 25, 2008, chicochi3 from Fayetteville, AR (Zone 6b) wrote: This plant is terribly invasive here. I'm not certain if the pretty flowers are worth the fight to keep the vines out of places where I don't want them. |
Positive | On Mar 3, 2008, distantkin from Saint Cloud, MN (Zone 4b) wrote: I was given this plant in the fall as a bit of root and about a 2 foot long vine with maybe 3 leaves on it. I took it out of the bubble envelope and tossed it in a pot thinking it would never make it. It is now almost Spring, this wonderful guy is still in my office and climbing the wall. There has been no flowers but I am hoping to plant it in a nicer pot in the Spring and let it go mad outside as soon as the weather permits. |
Negative | On Dec 29, 2007, arthulse from Weaverville, NC wrote: Purchased this at a nursery where it was listed as maypops. It wasn't. Maypops is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary and is a native to the southeast. Blue passion flower is introduced and I have found it to be very aggressive. In one season we had plants emerging as much as 8 feet away from the parent. Flowers only lasted a day and nothing pollinated them. Maypops is a much better choice since it is native and is a host plant for butterflies. |
Neutral | On Aug 10, 2007, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote: This plant grows like a weed! At least here in California. If it weren't for all the caterpillars stripping it of every vestige of green, it might be a nice plant. But at least it produces massive quantities of fruit (my guess is my 1 year old seedling produced at least 200 fruits this year).. At least the Frittalary caterpillars don't seem to affect fruit production, nor do they damage the fruits.... sadly the fruits are 90% hollow, with only a 'dollop' of barely edible bright red seeds inside. My parrot loves them though, and considers them a delicacy. Flowers are outstanding, of course. |
Positive | On Aug 10, 2007, VaBeachLil from Virginia Beach, VA (Zone 7b) wrote: We planted our Passion flower, from a two gallon pot we purchased at the nursery. I planted it straight from the pot into my garden, full sunshine in May. At first it just sat there and did nothing, I worried It was going to die. Then about a month later It took off an started growing like wild fire, the trellis I had it on was overtaken in about 45 days. Now I fight with it each day to keep it out of my Azalia bushes. It blooms daily. I am dissapointed that the blooms only last a day though. They have no fragrence here. But the blooms are lovely. I am concerned with how to care for it over the winter, and I am going to have to move it to the fence to give it more room of it's own and to let it climb. It is fun to watch. |
Positive | On Jul 31, 2007, docturf from Conway, SC (Zone 8b) wrote: My Passion Vine was planted in late 2005 and grew very well during 2006, but no blooms. Now, in 2007, the plant has produced over 80 blooms and is still forming new flower buds. In spite of a continuing drought, I am amazed at how well the plant is doing on nothing but a little liquid fertilizer (Peters) and city water. Docturf (july 31, 2007) |
Positive | On Jul 30, 2007, dragonplant from Chapel Hill, NC (Zone 7a) wrote: I am in zone 7, NC. I recommend it! But give it room. I sprouted one seed of this and planted it in the ground, in good soil mixed with some sand for drainage, in full sun, and next to a pond. It gets watered every 2 days by a watering system, and it grows like a weed! |
Positive | On Jul 9, 2007, Joy from Kalama, WA (Zone 8b) wrote: I've grown this Passiflora for years here in my PNW garden. It has stayed green throughout mild winters and would flower earlier than when it has died back. |
Positive | On Jun 2, 2007, ladie_39 from victoria, BC (Zone 6b) wrote: i live on vancouver island in the great pacific northwest, and i have had WONDERFUL success over the past 3 years with my passionflower vine, until THIS YEAR..it is now june 2, 2007 and it is still a mass of wood stock not even a hint of green there, i am wondering if i should cut it back NOW, or perhaps fertilize it and see what happens with it...any help with regards to this would be appreciated...thanks marianne |
Positive | On Oct 13, 2006, passiflorakid from cardiff, I love this plant!!! i have had it for about a year and has given me extreme pleasure.The flowers smell gorgeous too and does anyone know if it will fruit in a large tub (3ftX3ft) ta |
Positive | On Jul 12, 2006, shellabella from West Central, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: I purchased this plant last April. I planted it against a fence where it gets am sun and late afternoon shade. It 's growing very well, but it is still a smalish size-4ft and it now has 12 blooms at various stages of development. I got this one because I read that it is useful for polinating the tasty fruit bearing varieties.The butterflies also love it . |
Positive | On Mar 8, 2006, SW_gardener from (Zone 6a) wrote: I started this plant from seed about 2 ½ years ago, and the first summer the seedling didn't grow very much at all untill I brought it in for the winter when it REALLY took off. It must have grow at least 4 ½ to 5 feet in its first winter! And I only had it in a 3½ in pot in a north east window! Then I took it outside in mid May...it got hit a bit by cold and was slow to get going but by the end of the summer it had really taken off and I got a few suckers popping up! I have no doubt it survived its first winter and now I'm waiting to see it in the spring! |
Positive | On May 12, 2005, twenty2libras from Greenwell Springs, LA (Zone 8b) wrote: LOVE this vine, roots so easy, prolific bloomer, does great in containers with a trellis. |
Positive | On Oct 8, 2004, marshtackie from Orlando, FL wrote: Actually, I'm not sure whether it's caerulea I have. I know I had incarnata at one time, but that was years ago. And an extremely pretty, very purple hybrid--Amethyst, I guess. |
Positive | On Jul 24, 2004, hollyg from Clinton, LA wrote: I purchased a plant about four years ago and lost it over the winter. |
Neutral | On Jun 10, 2004, foodiesleuth from Honomu, HI (Zone 11) wrote: Would love seeds for this plant |
Positive | On Jun 6, 2004, nick89 from Tallahassee, FL (Zone 8b) wrote: I got a blue passionflower through the mail a year ago and planted it. Most of the stem died in the winter but it sprung back and is now over four feet! Flower buds are appearing. A more attractive kind than the native but gulf fritillaries don't seem to like it as much. A great vine for the garden but does have an extensive amount of roots and may climb onto nearby plants, so give it a trellis and some space. |
Positive | On Mar 23, 2004, vfenning wrote: My Passion Flower has grown beautifully in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The only thing I do not care for is how it dies back completely and has to start over each Spring. It does grow fast though. |
Positive | On Nov 1, 2003, wnstarr from Puyallup, WA (Zone 5a) wrote: Edgewood, Washington |
Positive | On Nov 1, 2003, BeanysNana from Puyallup, WA (Zone 8a) wrote: I am in Puyallup Washington, 30 miles South of Seattle. I just went out today 11/1/03 to check my Rockery garden as we had a hard freeze. I wanted to see how everything was reacting to the cold. My blue passion flower was not only still blooming and beautiful but.. as I poked around I found fruit !!!! This was a first year plant, about 6" tall that my daughter had given me, that was half dead in her yard. She stuck it in my yard in May hoping I would have better luck than she had. I just ignored it as I didn't know what it was, other than to spray a little Miracle Grown on it every now and then. Today I untangled 1 of the 6 vines and it is about 35 feet long. I have it growing in a circular shape on a low wood trellis, for lack of anything else to do with it. |
Positive | On Oct 10, 2003, dahlia_guy from Saint Helens, OR wrote: Fun plant. This plant needs full sun in cooler climates to flower well. Can be invasive but is also very easy to control by cutting back runners every few weeks. I grow mine right in the middle of my main garden bed on a trellis. |
Neutral | On Sep 27, 2003, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro, I grew this plant from seeds nine years ago. It was the first time I got sucessful with seedlings. Since I didn´t have much room, I selected the three strongest plants and replanted them. After a while, when the plantlets were still less than 10cm tall, they got attacked by caterpillars. Amazingly, they survived, and started growing again. |
Positive | On Jul 7, 2003, Jamie51 from Conroe, TX wrote: It grows real well in Texas, just be sure it doesn't get near other plants in your garden because the runners will take them over. Ours grows really well on the edge of the woods and does great without any care. The flowers grow hardy but with little or no smell it seems, but the flowers are a nice touch as a border on the edge of the woods surrounding the house. |
Positive | On Jun 18, 2003, SunshineSue from Mississauga, ON (Zone 6a) wrote: I see this plant is listed as "hardy" and I have microclimates in my southern Ontario garden that approximate zone 6 or 6b. However, our winters can range from quite mild with little snow and ice to winters like the one we just had which was very icy. |
Positive | On Apr 20, 2003, Stonebec from Fort Worth, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: Mine has been growing well on a fence for three years. Very hardy since my dog digs part of it up every year and chews the stem. I replant it and it's ok. This is a specific food plant for the caterpillar stage of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. The coccoons look like twisted dried leaves stuck on the fence. I harvest flowers before caterpillars come and after their season. |
Neutral | On Jul 14, 2002, Baa wrote: Fast growing climber from South America. |