Wasowski, Sally and Andy
Passiflora incarnata L.
Purple passionflower, Purple passion vine, Maypop, Apricot vine
Passifloraceae (Passion-Flower Family)
Purple passion-flower is an
herbaceous vine, up to 25 ft. long, that climbs with
axillary tendrils or sprawls along the ground. Intricate, 3 in., lavender flower are short-stalked from leaf axils. The petals and
sepals subtend a fringe of wavy or crimped, hair-like segments. The
pistil and
stamens are also showy. Three-lobed,
deciduous leaves are dark-green above and whitish below. The
fruit is a large, orange-yellow
berry with edible pulp. Like some other passion vines, Maypop spreads by root suckers.
This unusual flower is widely distributed in the Southeast, especially from Florida to Texas. The plants were given the name Passionflower or Passion
vine because the floral parts were once said to represent aspects of the Christian crucifixion story, sometimes referred to as the Passion. The 10 petal-like parts represent Jesuss disciples, excluding Peter and Judas; the 5
stamens the wounds Jesus received; the knob-like stigmas the nails; the fringe the crown of thorns. The name Maypop comes from the hollow, yellow fruits that pop loudly when crushed. Yellow Passion Flower (
P. lutea), a small yellow-flowered species, occurs from southeast Pennsylvania to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma, and north to Missouri, Illinois, and West Virginia.
Image Gallery:
20 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Vine Size Notes: Climber
Flower:
Fruit: Yellow
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MS , MO , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV , DC
Native Distribution: DE to MO, s. to e. TX & FL, also in Bermuda, introduced farther n. in U.S. Zones 7 to 10.
Native Habitat: Roadsides, Prairies, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs, Woodland edges and opening, Streams, Riverbanks
USDA Native Status: L48(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rich, non-saline clays, loams, sands.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Showy, Blooms ornamental, Ground cover, Arbor, Twines on fences & other plants, Climbs walls & columns
Use Wildlife: Fruit-birds.
Use Food: Fruits consumed by indigenous people.
Use Medicinal: Amerindians poulticed root for boils, cuts, earaches and inflammation. (Foster & Duke)
Tea used to sooth nerves; Inca brewed tonic; crushed leaves in poultices on cuts and bruises. (1 teaspoon dried leaves per cup of boiling water, steep 10 or 15 min) for insomnia, 1 cup at bedtime, as tonic up to 3 cups/day. (Castleman)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, Crimson-patch longwing, Red-banded hairstreak, Julia butterfly, Mexican butterfly.
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Passiflora incarnata is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2013-04-29
