Passiflora

The genus Passiflora consists of more than 500 species of tropical plants; most often lianas with clinging tendrils and beautiful flowers. These delicate plants can only be grown outdoors in mild, warm winters. Palmate or three-part leaves have a beautiful light green color. In the axils of the leaves, flattened flowers are formed, consisting of many petals. The plant received its second name - passion flower - for the features of the appearance of flowers resembling ancient order stars. They are decorated with a special formation - a crown of numerous threads between the petals and stamens, reminiscent of the crown of thorns of Jesus. Blooms in summer from July to October. Each individual flower does not last long, but the flowering period is generally long. After flowering, juicy orange-yellow fruits are formed, which are edible in most species. The most common species is the blue passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), native to Brazil. The color of the flowers is transitional from grayish-white to blue and light purple. In place of the flowers, orange-yellow ovate fruits are formed. Passionflower bright red (P. coccinea) - a more delicate species compared to P. caerulea. The shoots of the plant are covered with purple fluff and oval-toothed leaves. In July and August, flowers with crimson-red petals bloom. Another delicate species of edible passion flower (P. edulis) has three-lobed leaves of intense green color. White with a purple "crown" flowers bloom at the end of June; egg-shaped purple-purple edible fruits ripen in August-September. The softest passionflower (P. mollissima) is characterized by pink flowers and yellow fruits; the quadrangular passionflower (P. quadrangularis) is characterized by white flowers with a pink tint and large yellow fruits, and the branched passionflower (P. racemosa) is characterized by red, purple or white flowers.

The genus Passiflora consists of more than 500 species of tropical plants; most often lianas with clinging tendrils and beautiful flowers. These delicate plants can only be grown outdoors in mild, warm winters. Palmate or three-part leaves have a beautiful light green color. In the axils of the leaves, flattened flowers are formed, consisting of many petals. The plant received its second name - passion flower - for the features of the appearance of flowers resembling ancient order stars.

They are decorated with a special formation - a crown of numerous threads between the petals and stamens, reminiscent of the crown of thorns of Jesus.

Blooms in summer from July to October. Each individual flower does not last long, but the flowering period is generally long. After flowering, juicy orange-yellow fruits are formed, which are edible in most species.

The most common species is the blue passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), native to Brazil. The color of the flowers is transitional from grayish-white to blue and light purple. In place of the flowers, orange-yellow ovate fruits are formed.

Passionflower bright red (P. coccinea) - a more delicate species compared to P. caerulea. The shoots of the plant are covered with purple fluff and oval-toothed leaves. In July and August, flowers with crimson-red petals bloom.

Another delicate species of edible passion flower (P. edulis) has three-lobed leaves of intense green color. White with a purple "crown" flowers bloom at the end of June; egg-shaped purple-purple edible fruits ripen in August-September.

The softest passionflower (P. mollissima) is characterized by pink flowers and yellow fruits; the quadrangular passionflower (P. quadrangularis) is characterized by white flowers with a pink tint and large yellow fruits, and the branched passionflower (P. racemosa) is characterized by red, purple or white flowers.

Cultivation

In the early stages of development - the first 2-3 years - passionflower is grown in pots, then it is better to plant it in the open ground. Potted plants can be kept indoors for a short period (2-3 weeks) with maximum illumination, after which they are placed on a balcony, terrace or garden. In autumn, the plants are moved for the winter to a cool room, preferably unheated, so that the temperature does not fall below 7 °C. Non-lignified shoots are pruned. When growing passionflower in the open ground in a temperate climate zone, the plant is planted in a permanent place in May in well-drained soil, in a place protected from winds.

Location

Passionflower prefers a very well-lit place, it can even grow in the open sun, but it also feels comfortable in partial shade.

Temperature

The optimal summer temperature is 18-27 °C, but the plant can also tolerate higher thermometer readings.

Watering

In the spring and summer period, water should be plentiful, so that the soil is always moist. But excessive watering is harmful.

Transplant

Every spring, they are transplanted into new pots of slightly larger size until the diameter of the next one reaches 20-25 cm. In the future, they are limited to annual replacement of the surface layer of the earth.

Care

Pruning of open ground plants should be carried out at the end of winter, removing individual dry whips, and if they are overgrown, shortening the side shoots. Indoor specimens are cut off when transplanted into a new pot, leaving a height of 20-30 cm, leaving 10-15 cm at the side shoots.

Reproduction

Propagate in spring by cuttings and seeds. The most common method is cuttings. Cuttings are cut approximately 10 cm long and planted in a mixture of sand and peat, kept at a temperature of 18-21 °C. When the roots of the plant appear, they are planted singly in 10-centimeter cups. On a permanent place in the open ground, individual specimens are planted next May, and plants intended for growing in pots are occasionally transplanted into large containers.

Diseases

If passionflower is cultivated under strictly defined environmental conditions, there are usually no problems. You must comply with these requirements, provide the plant with proper lighting and maintain optimal humidity, and do not place it in drafts. Sometimes passionflower is damaged by mites, which causes speckles to appear on the leaves. Pests are eliminated with the help of appropriate acaricides. Shoots and leaves can be chosen by mealybugs. In this case, the plant is treated with a cloth or cotton swab soaked in alcohol - and then with an anti-coccidal drug. Green apple tree aphids mainly affect young shoots. They get rid of it by using anti-aphid drugs.

Acquisition

Passionflower seedlings are easy to find in nurseries, gardening centers and flower shops. The best time to buy is in May: in a mild climate, plants can be immediately planted in a permanent place.