1 named cultivar

‘Waterloo Blue’Waterloo Blue Passionflower

vine

Passionflower

The Story

Plant Bio

Passiflora caerulea, blue passionflower, is a vigorous semi-evergreen climber from Bolivia, Brazil and northern Argentina, reaching ten to forty feet by tendrils. Deeply lobed palmate leaves cover the stems, and the extraordinary saucer-shaped flowers carry white petals beneath a fringed corona banded in blue, white and purple.

The flower structure is the reason it is grown — the fringed corona and the prominent stamens and styles above it gave rise to its religious symbolism and are unlike anything else in a hardy climber. It is the hardiest passionflower, surviving to zone 6 with dieback, and it hosts fritillary butterfly larvae. The orange fruit is edible but bland.

Uses & Benefits:

Intricate blue and white flowers with a fringed corona, unlike anything else in a hardy climber.

Fast, hardy to zone 6 with dieback, and covers a large structure in a single season.

A larval host for fritillary butterflies, and bees work the flowers heavily.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Vine

Height

300 inches

Width

60 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Bolivia, Brazil and northern Argentina

Toxicity

Ripe fruit edible; unripe fruit and leaves are not

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun to partial shade against a support.
Give it freely draining soil; it dislikes wet feet.
Expect dieback in zone 6 and cut back in spring.
Water while establishing, then only in drought.
Cut back hard each spring to control size.
Remove suckers, which appear some distance away.

Pro Tip

It suckers from the roots and comes up feet from the parent, so pull those shoots early rather than letting them establish.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it a support to climb 🏗️
Cut back hard each spring ✂️
Pull root suckers early 🌱
Let fritillary caterpillars feed 🦋

Don't

Plant it in heavy wet soil ❌
Expect the fruit to taste of much ❌
Let suckers establish ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Fast cover on a fence, pergola or wallButterfly and pollinator plantingContainer with a frame in colder gardens

Companion Plants

ClematisTrumpet Honeysuckle Salvia LantanaMuhly Grass

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Passionflower questions

What zones can Passionflower grow in?

Passionflower is hardy in USDA Zones 6–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Passionflower deer resistant?

Yes — Passionflower is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Passionflower bloom?

Passionflower typically blooms in summer to fall through mid-summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Passionflower need full sun?

Passionflower does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.