Passion flower species: the most beautiful Passiflora varieties

The passion flowers are mainly native to warm regions around the equator. Nevertheless, some species tolerate very low temperatures down to frost. Nevertheless, they should be protected here in winter at least a little.

Blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea): The blue passion flower is the most commonly sold species. This species has a white base color in the flower with blue-white awns. The flowers have a diameter of up to 10 cm. Individual varieties also have other flower colors such as pure white. This species tolerates some frost down to -9°C to a limited extent. Some varieties have even been bred to be slightly more frost tolerant down to -15°C and left in a sheltered spot outdoors.

The most popular varieties of blue passionflower are:

• Constance Elliott
• Chinensis
• Gala
• Pierre Pomie

Flesh-colored passion flower (Passiflora incarnata): The flesh-colored passion flower is much more frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C. Your original flower color is a light pink, which have both the petals and the awns. In the meantime there are also numerous breeds, in pure white or a light to very dark violet.

Popular varieties are:

• Byron Beauty
• Incense

Yellow passion flower (P. lutea): -15°C are no problem for the yellow passion flower and for a short time it can even survive -30°C without any problems. In its bloom, this form is rather subtle, but still beautiful. It has yellow to light yellow flowers that are a bit daintier and more delicate than those of the blue or flesh-colored passionflower.

Passion flower species as indoor plants

Many Passiflora varieties have a climbing growth habit and require a correspondingly large amount of space indoors. If you do not have this space available, you should choose passion flower species that have a slightly weaker growth.

Lemon passion flower (P. citrina): The lemon passion flower is native to Honduras and Guatemala. It has rather dainty flowers in a rich yellow hue. She is easy to grow indoors, but needs regular watering and feeding to produce buds. You can also put them in a window that faces east or west.

Vine-leaved Passion Flower (P. vitifolia): The Vine-leaved Passion Flower is a sun worshiper and requires a south-facing window. It has a beautiful red flower complemented with foliage reminiscent of grape leaves. The leaves are rather larger, but fewer, which means that the beautiful flower comes to the fore.

Golden Passion Flower (P. aurantia): The Golden Passion Flower is one of the Passiflora varieties that are ideal to start with. Those who are not yet very familiar with passion flowers will have a lot of fun with them, because they also forgive one or the other care mistake. It only needs a nutrient-poor substrate and needs to be watered occasionally. In return, she rewards her owners with an orange-yellow flower that is actually slightly reminiscent of a golden star.

Passiflora varieties as a tree

How diverse the world of passion flowers is is shown by the fact that there are also a few species of passion flowers that grow as trees. However, they are difficult to cultivate in Central Europe, but those who can create the right conditions will be rewarded with attractive flowers.

• Passiflora lindeniana: white petals with yellowish-yellow spruce
• Passiflora macrophylla: large flowers with white-green petals

Edible passion flowers

Some species, including blue passionflower, are edible. However, the taste is rather uninteresting, which is why it is edible, but rarely eaten. However, there are other types of passion flowers that are cultivated precisely because of their tasty fruits.

Passion fruit (P. edulis): The passion fruit is often confused with the blue passion flower. The blue passion flower is often also offered as a hardy passion fruit, but the fruits are not comparable. However, both species are very similar when they flower. The passion fruit also has white petals with blue-white awns. Compared to the blue passion flower, however, the awns are not straight, but wavy. The passion fruit originally comes from tropical areas such as Brazil and does not tolerate cold temperatures. With good care, however, it can certainly produce tasty fruits here in winter gardens or heated greenhouses.

Sweet granadilla (P. ligularis): The sweet granadilla is a fruit that is still rarely found in Central Europe. It also belongs to the passion flower species and has white petals with striped awns in white, purple and a dark shade of red. However, their awns are significantly wider than those of the passion fruit. You need a lot of space to cultivate the sweet granadilla. Not only does it form many tendrils, it also has very large flowers and leaves.

More species

Many passion flower species differ only minimally in their blossom. However, some Passiflora varieties have very showy flowers, which at first glance do not suggest that they all belong to the same genus of passion flowers. However, many species are difficult to care for in order for them to flower at all. However, if you invest some time, you will be rewarded with attractive flowers.

Bay-leaved passionflower (P. laurifolia):

• red petals curved backwards
• dark almost black awns
• prominent and long styles

Passiflora eichleriana:

• blue and white awn wreath
• dotted stylus
• dreilappige Laubblätter

Note: The Passiflora eichleriana needs a constant temperature of at least 15°C and a sunny location.Seeanemonen-Passionsblume (P. actinia):

• hanging flowers
• Petals white and curved backwards
• Awns conspicuously striped
• Awn very long and curved forward
• conditionally hardy

At first glance, the sea anemone passion flower actually resembles a sea anemone. The slightly wavy awns in the eye-catching colors also match this.

Belots Passionsblume (P. x belotii):

• pale pink Petals
• violet double awn wreath

The Belots passion flower is a real rarity, because there are only very few specimens. It is probably an accidental crossbreed that was later bred further.

Passiflora vitifolia x coccinea:

• delicate pink petals
• awns overgrown
• Awns with a red-yellow gradient

The passion flowers have an advantage, they are very cross-breeding and therefore easy to cross. However, there are always surprises with crossbreeds, such as the strikingly colored awns that the passionflower species that have been crossed lack.

Trumpet Passion Flower (P. murucuja):

• Awns fused and narrowing towards the top
• pink to red petals
• small flowers
• can go outdoors in summer

Banana Passion Flower (P. tripartita var. Molissima):

• pink Petals
• single petals very large
• subtle violet-white awn wreath

The banana passion flower did not get its name because of its beautiful flowers, but because of its fruits. These are reminiscent of bent bananas.

Violette Passionsblume (P. violacea):

• violet flowers of different shades
• violet-white awn wreath

The purple passion flower is a real eye-catcher among the Passiflora varieties. The violet flowers can vary in intensity depending on the variety. As a result, the flowers within the species are very variable. Some varieties also have marbled petals that look like they’ve come out of a watercolor.

Edmundoi (P. edmundoi):

• new crossing
• from Central America
• pink flowers curved backwards
• short intense violet awn wreath
• prominent stylus

In this crossing, named after Edmundo Pereira, the focus is on the flower. The three-lobed foliage is also attractive, but the plant develops this rather discreetly. It is slow-growing and also takes a long time until it develops the first flowers. However, it is not very complex to care for and requires moderate fertilization.

Yellow Glands (P. alata):

• dark red flowers
• purple-white awns curved forward
• yellow glands on the leaves

The Yellow Glands variety is a little special, because it is not only visually beautiful, but also pleasant to the nose. If the glands on the leaves are touched, they emit a light scent reminiscent of a citrus fruit.

Traubige Passionsblume (P. racemosa):

• red flowers
• narrow pointed petals
• Awns short, red-white

The grape passion flower got its name from its inflorescence. Before they open, the spherical buds are tightly packed, reminiscent of grapes at this stage. This variety is particularly attractive because it can produce up to 30 flowers on one inflorescence. With good care, the lush flowers easily cover the green leaves. However, it also requires a correspondingly large number of nutrients and you have to fertilize it regularly so that you can maintain the flowering splendor.