We have a Passion Flower (looks like Passiflora foetida) which did
nothing for years, and then two years ago exploded into flowers, and
wound itself all over the place.

Same again last year - by the end of which it was threatening to take
over that corner of the garden, and so I cut it back with shears.

It didn't seem to like that, because it was sulking for most of the
start of this year, and then rallied in early September, flowered, and
wound around in a healthy way.

What would you say that I'm *supposed* to do with it? One of my
gardening books says shortly: "Do not prune".

Perhaps I pruned at the wrong time, last year?

Cheers
John

In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:39:21 +0100, Another John
wrote:

We have a Passion Flower (looks like Passiflora foetida) which did
nothing for years, and then two years ago exploded into flowers, and
wound itself all over the place.

Same again last year - by the end of which it was threatening to take
over that corner of the garden, and so I cut it back with shears.

It didn't seem to like that, because it was sulking for most of the
start of this year, and then rallied in early September, flowered, and
wound around in a healthy way.

What would you say that I'm *supposed* to do with it? One of my
gardening books says shortly: "Do not prune".

Perhaps I pruned at the wrong time, last year?

Cheers
John

As you've got it growing outside, it's most probably Passiflora
caerulea, the blue passion flower https://tinyurl.com/yy99sxfa Most of
the other passion flower species aren't hardy outdoors, although IIRC
P. incarnata, AKA Maypops will survive for a few years in sheltered
spots https://tinyurl.com/y28mrexv. This is P. foetida
https://tinyurl.com/y2ns5kj7 although it's a variable species with
many varieties. I believe the flower buds are hairy, and the leaves
give off a rather unpleasant smell when crushed, hence the name.

In general, pruning of passionflowers only needs to be done to keep
the plant tidy and within bounds. Remove a few of the growths back to
the base, but leave some growths to keep the sap rising. Once new
shoots have started growing from low down, the older ones can be
removed. Best done in Spring when growth is active, otherwise there's
a greater risk of fungal infections entering through the cut ends.

Chris - perfect answer, thank you!

Yes you're right about the variety/species -- I had forgotten the
specific, because we bought it years and years ago. The spectacular
flower of foetida on the Wikipedia page made me think it was that:
caerulea, as you have shown, is no less spectacular - looks like the
same plant almost! These flowers never cease to "impress our friends"
(and us!).

Thanks a lot
John

In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:
P. incarnata, AKA Maypops will survive for a few years in sheltered
spots https://tinyurl.com/y28mrexv.

I have had it growing for quite a few years, and have even got an
infertile fruit off it - I am trying to grow more, to help with
fruiting. It is in the rain shadow of the eaves, where it can run
its roots out into the open, because what kills it is not cold but
sodden soil in winter.

I may be the only person successfully growing it in the open in the
UK outside the very south and west - but that's the key :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 24/10/2020 07:28, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 21:20:59 +0100, Another John
wrote:

In article ,
Chris Hogg wrote:

On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:39:21 +0100, Another John
wrote:

We have a Passion Flower (looks like Passiflora foetida) which did
nothing for years, and then two years ago exploded into flowers, and
wound itself all over the place.

Same again last year - by the end of which it was threatening to take
over that corner of the garden, and so I cut it back with shears.

It didn't seem to like that, because it was sulking for most of the
start of this year, and then rallied in early September, flowered, and
wound around in a healthy way.

What would you say that I'm *supposed* to do with it? One of my
gardening books says shortly: "Do not prune".

Perhaps I pruned at the wrong time, last year?

Cheers
John

As you've got it growing outside, it's most probably Passiflora
caerulea, the blue passion flower https://tinyurl.com/yy99sxfa Most of
the other passion flower species aren't hardy outdoors, although IIRC
P. incarnata, AKA Maypops will survive for a few years in sheltered
spots https://tinyurl.com/y28mrexv. This is P. foetida
https://tinyurl.com/y2ns5kj7 although it's a variable species with
many varieties. I believe the flower buds are hairy, and the leaves
give off a rather unpleasant smell when crushed, hence the name.

In general, pruning of passionflowers only needs to be done to keep
the plant tidy and within bounds. Remove a few of the growths back to
the base, but leave some growths to keep the sap rising. Once new
shoots have started growing from low down, the older ones can be
removed. Best done in Spring when growth is active, otherwise there's
a greater risk of fungal infections entering through the cut ends.

Chris - perfect answer, thank you!

Yes you're right about the variety/species -- I had forgotten the
specific, because we bought it years and years ago. The spectacular
flower of foetida on the Wikipedia page made me think it was that:
caerulea, as you have shown, is no less spectacular - looks like the
same plant almost! These flowers never cease to "impress our friends"
(and us!).

Thanks a lot
John

There are some really beautiful passionflowers out there, see the
selection being sold by this specialist https://tinyurl.com/y5qnum6o
I have grown P. quadrangularis in a conservatory in the past
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BEoAA...2U/s-l1600.jpg
P. alata is similar. I currently have P. vitifolia and P. molissima
also in a conservatory, but they haven't flowered yet.
https://tinyurl.com/y3jojvy7 and https://tinyurl.com/y2mz4r5q

I've grown /P. caerulea/ for years, and found it pretty hardy. I've got
three at the moment; one grows in pretty dense shade at the far end of
the garden at least 25 metres from the house. It has been there about
four years. Amazingly it flowered this year. Another one near the house,
but on the north side, is growing well - maybe too well - as it has
thrown up several suckers three metres away from the main stem, and
those three metres are under stone slabs and concrete!

One cultivar I'm growing is "Damsel's Delight"
https://www.riversidepassiflora.com/passiflora-damsels-delight/. This
has a very attractive flower almost 50% larger than caerulea, and with
better colouring. Unfortunately, it has no scent. Out of interest I
tried taking pollen from one of its flowers to a caerulea flower which
had not yet opened. I wasn't expecting anything, as "Damsel's Delight"
is hexaploid, but a fruit formed and there were around 40 seeds in it. I
potted those up and nine germinated within a couple of weeks. I don't
know if they are a cross or just P. caerulea. Although I had to cut open
the bud to access the stigma, the anthers were already well formed and
appeared to have pollen on them; it would not have been difficult to
transfer some of that to the stigma, unfortunately.

--

Jeff