Annual

Passion Flower Vine

Botanical Name: Passiflora caerulea 'Waterloo Blue'
Height: 5-6' +
Spread: depends on how it is trellised
Exposure: Sun
Care: None, although fertilization will encourage more blooming
The flowers are interesting and breathtaking. 'Waterloo Blue' has a soft fragrance. Passion Flowers thrive in a large containers in full sun. Put the container up against a wall with a trellis and watch them cover the wall! Passion vines are good at climbing using their tendrils to wrap around any support. There are many other species, but most are not widely available. Many Passiflora have very complex flowers, some are scented, some used in commercial perfumes, and often the colors are bold and striking. Depending on variety, flowers vary from 1/2 inch to as much as 6 inches across. They are heavy feeders so fertilize with a Bloom Booster fertilizer and water regularly and you will be rewarded with masses of blooms! The name is said to derive from the resemblence of the flower to the crown of thorns placed on the head of Christ. Others say parts of the plant symolize features of the Crucifixion, also known as the Passion of Christ in the Christian religon. If you have a sunny spot indoors you can overwinter it, just cut it back hard and bring it indoors before the first hard frost.