PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora)

Tropical North, Central & South America

Climbers from the tropical and subtropical Passiflora family are tender, but some do survive outdoors in London. Passiflora Caerulea, the Blue Passionflower, with radial filaments tipped in deepest BLUE, is said to be hardiest in London’s cold wet winters. This Passionflower grows in several Highbury front gardens.

 

These photos are of an obviously happy Passiflora Caerulea, planted just inside the pavement on Ambler Road close to Blackstock Road, where its exuberant growth covers a wooden slatted screen for bins.

Bees Favourite.

In tropical climates it may be hummingbirds or bats visiting the Passionflower; here in London, honeybees and bumblebees are the visitors. This honeybee may be from our local beehive on Plimsoll Road.

(Read about the beekeeper in Nicola Baird‘s Islington Faces blog : https://islingtonfacesblog.com/2015/06/10/peter-buckoke-beekeeper/ )

Conservation Ranger Louisa & volunteers managed to grow Passiflora on a site near the Regents Canal, on a pergola. Louisa said that two Passionflower plants were lost to winter cold before a third managed to survive.

 

Other names:

Blaue Passionsblume,   Carkifelek (Rota Fortunae/’The Wheel of Fortune’/Turkey),  ‘Clock Plant’ (Greece, Japan),    ‘Clock Flower’ (Israel),    Dorn-Krone (‘Crown of Thorns’/Germanic),      Espina de Cristo (‘Thorn of Christ’/Spain),     Fiore della passione,    Grenadilla,     Isusova kruna (Jesus crown),    ‘  Liliko ‘t (Hawaii),   Maracuja,   Markisa,   Mburucuya,    Muttergottes-Stern (‘Mother of God’s Star’/Germanic),   Parcha,    Parchita,   Passiflora azzurra,   Sweet Cup.

Traditional

In Floriography, the Victorian Language of Flowers, Passionflower was seen to symbolise ‘religious superstition’.

“In India, blue passionflowers are called Krishnakamala in Karnataka and Maharashtra, while in Uttar Pradesh and generally north they are colloquially called “Paanch Paandav” (referring to the five Pandavas in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata). The five anthers are interpreted as the five Pandavas, the divine Krishna is at the centre, and the radial filaments are opposing hundred. The colour blue is moreover associated with Krishna as the colour of his aura.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passiflora

Passionflower in Highbury

We have grown Passionflower in our wildlife garden. Young plants succumbed to slugs, snails, and/or mice. One mature plant was from Capital Gardens at Alexander Palace. Already flowering in its pot, it bloomed prolifically on the Rose Arch with each flower drawing many pollinators to itself. Sadly, it did not survive the winter.

28 April 2015 – A new adult Passionflower, from the Hornsey Pet and Garden shop, has been installed today. We shall see how it fares. There was a great tangle of twining tendrils to sort out, many buds & two flowers that opened completely in the sunshine straightaway.

23 August 2015 – The Passionflower has grown to the top of the Ivy wall with other climbers, and its flowers are from the topmost array of buds. Many early buds, all on view when the plant arrived, may have been eaten by garden inhabitants. (Usual suspects – squirrels and mice.)

 

10 November 2015 – After a summer of growth, the Passionflower has made much of itself in the southeast corner. Our flower, with petals coloured a soft LILAC, is called ‘Amethyst’ and has long been grown in the UK, apparently.

 

 

http://theherbgardener.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/how-to-grow-passionflower.html

February 2016 : Our Passionflower was doomed by a short spell of cold, wintry weather. Sad. Below, a squirrel looks across at the yellowing leaves. A neighbour’s Passionflower survives, growing against brickwork by their front door. Perhaps the extra warmth from their home made the difference. Our back garden does get a lot of strong wind.