Purple passionflower is the hardiest of thepassionflower species, best grown in full sun and well-draining, moist soil.
When protected with mulch, it can handle cold snaps down to -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
It might even get a little out of control in highly fertile soils.
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Slow, deep watering at the root level is best.
Just see to it the mulch doesn’t press up against the plant stem.
Temperature and Humidity
These tropical-looking flowers are surprisingly cold-tolerant.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Plant your purple passionflower in well-drained soil; the roots should be hardy down to around -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
In warmer climates, this evergreen remains woody.
Fertilizer
Regular light feeding helps ensure your purple passionflower blooms prolifically.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Fertilize in the early spring before the emergence of new development.
Once the flowers appear, feed at least once a month or more up through early fall.
For the amounts to use, follow product label instructions.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Types of Passionflowers
There are hundreds of varieties of passionflower, coming in different colors and sizes.
The care instructions are roughly the same.
The foliage provides year-round interest in its hardiness zones.
The plants also provide a nutritious source of winter food for wildlife.
This twining vine is ideal for growing up against trellises, outbuilding walls, or fences.
Growing it in a container is a good option.
It typically takes two to three months but can take up to a year.
Additionally, growing in pots prevents passionflowers from spreading uncontrollably.
Keep the soil moist, but don’t allow the roots to sit in water.
Repot in a container at least a few inches bigger than the current one.
verify the pot has good drainage holes and that the medium you use is fertile and well-drained.
If it’s in a container, move it up against a building as a windbreak.
Also, wrap the container in a blanket or burlap.
Withhold fertilizer for the two months leading up to the cold season.
Bring the plant inside if it’s too cold for your plant outdoors.
Do not expose it to the sun.
Only water the plant once a month.
However, this is a vining plant that needs a trellis.
To keep it manageable, trim it and give it a climbing structure.
Water it less frequently than in summer, perhaps once a week or every 14 days.
Their striking, fragrant flowers areattractive to butterfliesand other pollinators.
Bloom Months
Purple passionflowers typically bloom in June and July, sometimes August.
The pollinated blooms develop fruits in the fall.
How Long Does Purple Passionflower Bloom?
The flowers only typically bloom for a day throughout the summer and early fall.
What Do Purple Passionflowers Look and Smell Like?
The purple-pinkish flowers look exotic, with a wavy fringe of filaments.
If your passionflower plants are not making plentiful flowers, your fertilizer mix could have too much nitrogen.
Nitrogen focuses on leaf production.
Consider adding more phosphorus to the fertilizer mix.
Deadheading Purple Passionflower
Purple passionflowers do not need to be deadheaded.
The flowers drop naturally after they fade.
Common Problems With Purple Passionflower
Purple passionflower is a relatively easy plant to grow.
Test the soil to confirm the balance of nutrients.
Too much fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, can discourage bloom growth for the sake of more prolific leaves.
Reduce fertilizer rates once the plant has grown to maturity.
Although they are slow to germinate, purple passionflowers grow vigorously.
When conditions are right, these vines can grow as much as 20 feet in a year.
Purple passionflowers can live up to a decade or more if they get the right care and climate.
These plants can grow indoors with enough sun and warmth, but you shouldn’t expect them to flower.
Their long vines can be unwieldy as an indoor potted plant.
North Carolina State Extension.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH).
