What plant is the Passiflora genus? Get to know the common types
Passion flowers are vigorous vines native to the Americas that bring a tropical flair to your garden. Passion vines have brilliantly colored flowers, and some varieties of the vine produce passion fruit. There are different types of passion flower vines commercially, some hardier than native varieties.
The Passiflora genus has about 400 species, most native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. They are shallow-rooted and grow as understory plants in rainforests. The unusual flowers are the standout feature, and many different types of passion flower vines are grown purely for their blooms. Only one species, Passiflora edulis Sims, holds the exclusive name of passion fruit without qualification. Within this species you will find two forms of passion flower vine, the standard purple and the yellow. The yellow type is botanically known as Passiflora edulis f.
Both passion flower varieties of Passiflora edulis bear small, oval fruits. The edible portion consists of small black seeds, each covered in juicy, fragrant orange pulp. An outstanding passion flower variety Another very common passion flower vine in the United States is Passiflora incarnata, native to Texas. Texas gardeners call this type “May-pop” because the fruits pop loudly when you step on them. This is one of the hardier passion flower types commercially. It grows easily from seed.
If fragrance is your main concern when choosing among different types of passion flower vines, consider Passiflora alatocaerulea. This plant is a hybrid and is widely available. It is grown commercially, and its 4-inch flowers are used to make perfume. This vine may need frost protection in winter. Passiflora vitifolia is another hardy bloomer, offering vivid scarlet flowers with yellow filaments and edible fruit. This variety tolerates temperatures of 28°F (-2°C). Every gardener has their own favorite among the different types of passion flower vines.
Some of the standouts include: blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea), with 3-inch blue and white flowers on a fast-growing vine. It climbs to 30 feet in mild climates, such as USDA plant hardiness zones 7 to 10. “Blue Bouquet” passion flower (Passiflora caerulea ‘Blue Bouquet’), grown for its pure blue flowers in zones 9 to 10. 'Elizabeth' passion flower (Passiflora 'Elizabeth') produces 5-inch lavender flowers. 'White Wedding' (Passiflora 'White Wedding') offers large, pure white flowers.
