Also known as Passion Flower · 433 gardener saves
Passiflora: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Passiflora, the genus most gardeners know as passion flower. We track 12 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Passiflora varieties
Of 12 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedPurple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
#2 most savedBlue Passionflower
Passiflora loefgrenii 'caerulea'
#3 most savedPurple Passionflower, Maypop
Passiflora incarnata 'Butterfly Flower'
Waterloo Blue Passionflower
Passiflora caerulea 'Waterloo Blue'
Sea Anemone Passion Flower
Passiflora actinia
White Passionflower
Passiflora alba 'Blue Horizon'
Red Passion Flower
Passiflora x tarminiana 'manicata'
Blue Passionflower
Passiflora incarta 'Blue Passion Flower Vine'
Mission Dolores Passion Flower
Passiflora x parritae antioquiensis 'Mission Dolores'
Frederick Passion Fruit
Passiflora edulis 'Frederick'
Susan Brigham Passionflower
Passiflora x hybrida 'Susan Brigham'
Yellow Passion Flower
Passiflora citrina 'Cocktail Orange'
How to grow Passiflora
What the Passiflora varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 12 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Passiflora year
- PruneFebruary and March100% of varieties
Prune back hard in late winter/early spring to maintain shape and vigor.
- FertilizeApril–August92% of varieties
Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during active growth and blooming.
- Winter PrepOctober and November75% of varieties
Apply thick mulch over root zone or move container plants indoors (tender in Z7)
- PlantMarch–May42% of varieties
Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
- HarvestJuly–September33% of varieties
Harvest fruit when it is fully colored and drops from the vine or detaches easily.
Do
- Provide full sun for optimal flowering
- Provide full sun for at least 6 hours daily ☀️
- Fertilize monthly during active growth
- Maintain consistently moist but well-drained soil 💧
- Prune to shape and remove dead or weak stems ✂️
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Don’t neglect support structures for climbing growth
- Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot ❌
- Don’t expose to frost; it’s a warm-weather plant
What goes wrong with Passiflora
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky honeydew and distorted leaves | Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled leaves | Use organic insecticidal soap and increase humidity |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing, speckled leaves | Increase humidity and spray with insecticidal soap |
| Scale insects | Brown or black bumps on stems | Apply horticultural oil or remove manually |
| Root rot | Wilting and blackened roots | Ensure well-draining soil and reduce watering |
| Root Rot | Wilting and yellowing leaves | Improve drainage and reduce watering; apply fungicide if needed |
| Powdery Mildew | White powder on leaves | Apply neem oil or sulfur-based fungicide |
Making more Passiflora
Cuttings
- Select healthy semi-woody stems in late spring.
- Dip cuttings in rooting hormone.
- Plant in moist, well-draining soil or perlite.
- Maintain high humidity and indirect light for 6 weeks.
Seeds
- Extract seeds from ripe fruit.
- Scarify seeds lightly before planting.
- Plant in warm, moist soil.
- Maintain consistent moisture and warmth for germination.
Passiflora questions
How many types of Passiflora are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 12 distinct Passiflora varieties. The most popular — ranked by 433 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Passiflora grow in?
Across its varieties, Passiflora covers USDA Zones 5–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Passiflora bloom?
Most Passiflora varieties bloom in mid-summer, summer to fall, summer to fall. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Passiflora should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Design with Passiflora in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
