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Passiflora coccinea

Image of Passiflora coccinea

Gerald L. Klingaman

Family

Passifloraceae

Botanical Name

Passiflora coccinea

Plant Common Name

Red Passionflower

General Description

Red passion flower is a perennial vine native to northwestern South America. It is evergreen in frost free locations and deciduous in colder locations. Dark green, simple, oval to oblong leaves have double-toothed margins and are arranged alternately on the stem. The vines climb by tendrils produced in the leaf axils (joint between the leaves and stems) on round, angled branches covered with red hairs. Beautiful flowers appear summer through fall. The complex, fragrant, bowl-shaped flowers are composed of a white, green and red fleshy reproductive structures surrounded by a fringe of dark purple-black and pale pink or white filaments and many deep red to orange petals. The fruit soon follows thought out the season and is egg-shaped, yellow to orange mottled with green and edible.

Red passion flower is an aggressive growing vine and soon covers structures or other plants, particularly in disturbed areas. It prefers to grow in full sun but will tolerate light shade for a short portion of the day. Well-drained soil is required; passion flowers are drought tolerant but look best with irrigation in dry times. This passion vine is frost and freeze sensitive and will not tolerate prolonged freezing temperatures. Grow it in containers where not hardy. Red passion flower can be weedy, spreading by suckers and rooted vines. It is the host and larval food for several butterfly species which can cause the leaves to look tattered and chewed. Grow passion flowers as a ground cover, on trellises or other supports for the lovely flowers and abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds they attract.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 10

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    11 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Vine/Liana

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

  • Height

    6'-20' / 1.8m - 6.1m

  • Bloom Time

    Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall

  • Native To

    South America

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Vining/Climbing

  • Seasonal Interest

    Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Red, Green, Purple, Dark Red

  • Flower Color Modifier

    Multi-Color

  • Fruit Color

    Yellow, Green, Orange

  • Fruit Color Modifier

    Spotted/Mottled

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Dark Green

  • Bark Color

    Red, Brown

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    Yes

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    Yes

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical, Vine

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    Sometimes

  • Attracts

    Hummingbirds, Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes