Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on 97.9 WHAV.
Go vertical with the fragrant unique white and purple blooms of purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata).
Hardy in zone 6 to 9 the purple passionflower will often survive in sheltered zone 5 locations. Grow it in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Once established, it is drought tolerant.
This vigorous grower is native to the Southeast U.S. If happy, it will send out suckers and cover large areas of the landscape. It does die back to the ground where winters are cold. And can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in colder regions.
Enjoy the summer blooms and if your season is long and warm enough, the edible fruit in fall. Step on one of the egg-shaped fruit and listen for the loud popping noise that inspired the common name Maypop.
Harvest and enjoy the sweet flesh inside the mature yellow fruit in the fall.
A bit more information: The passionflower fruit sold for commercial use comes from Passiflora edulis hardy to zone 8. A close look at the center of the passionflower reveals the inspiration of the botanical name. Passio means passion and flos means flower with the name referencing its symbolism of the crucifixion of Christ.
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