• Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS

Passiflora incarnata

passion vine, maypop, purple passion flower

Nomenclature

Common Name:

passion vine, maypop, purple passion flower

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Passiflora incarnata

Family:

Passifloraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

vine

Size:

Stems 3-10 ft long, sprawling and scrambling over other vegetation.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

blue,purple

Fruit Color:

yellow,green

Phenology:

Deciduous, winter dormant. Blooms spring to fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Given the proper support this plant makes an excellent climbing vine hedge.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay

Soil pH:

6.1 to 7.8

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds

Purple passionflower is larval host plant for numerous butterfly species, including Gulf Fritillary ( Agraulis vanillae ) and Zebra Longwing ( Heliconius charithonia ), the state butterfly of Florida. It also is host to the Crimson Patch Longwing ( Heliconius erato ), Red-banded hairstreak ( Calycopis cecrops )and Julia Heliconian ( Dryas iulia ) butterflies.





Pollinated by bees.

The young tendrils of purple passionvine are eaten by wild turkey.  Wildlife eat the fruits.

Native Habitats:

Disturbed, brushy areas or disturbed upland hardwood forest, sandhill and scrub.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The Cherokee used a compound infusion of the root to treat boils. They also gave an infusion of root to babies to aid in weaning, and a warm infusion of beaten root dropped into the ear for earache. The Cherokee used parboiled leaves and the fruit as a food source.

General Comments:

The name 'passion' is a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Parts of the flower are said to resemble instruments used during the crucifixion.