Passion Flower | Missouri Department Of Conservation

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Passion Flower

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Media Safety Concerns Name Edible Scientific Name Passiflora incarnata Family Passifloraceae (passion flowers) Description

Herbaceous perennial vine, sprawling or climbing by tendrils. The unique, elaborate flowers arise singly from axils, the floral parts purplish blue, pink, and white, fringed. Blooms June–September. Leaves alternate, deeply 3- or occasionally 5-lobed, on stalks up to 3 inches long. Two small glands are located near the top of the leaf stalk. Fruit fleshy, egg-shaped or nearly spherical, up to 2 inches long, green, becoming yellow at maturity, edible with a sweet pulp similar to citrus.

Other Common Names Passionflower Maypops Size

Height: vine climbing 6–8 feet; spread: 3–6 feet.

Where To Find

Mostly south of Missouri River; although cultivated potentially statewide, it is native only in southern Missouri.

Habitat and Conservation

Occurs in sandy fields, fencerows, low alluvial ground, waste areas, roadsides, and railroads. Cultivated statewide. A relative of the tropical passion fruit, this species is native to the southeastern United States, including southern Missouri. For its genus, this species is relatively hardy, but individuals may not survive Missouri's coldest winters. It reseeds readily, however.

Status

The genus name, Passiflora, is applied to this group of plants because of their unusual flowers. Apparently, Spanish explorers fancifully associated the floral structures with the story of Christ's crucifixion—the fringe representing the crown of thorns, and so on. The species name, incarnata, means "in the flesh" or "incarnate." The common name "maypops" refers to the fruits, which in the South ripen in May and pop when crushed.

Human Connections

A fascinating native vine for landscaping. The bizarre flowers attract attention—and butterflies. Ripe fruits are edible raw or made into jellies. The vine climbs via tendrils. The roots can spread aggressively, but in our zone the vines die back to the ground in winter.

Ecosystem Connections

Passion flowers are food plants for larval Gulf and variegated fritillary butterflies. The flowers require cross-pollination in order for their seeds to be viable, and bumblebees and carpenter bees are some of the pollinators.

Title Media Gallery Image Caption The bizarre, complicated blossoms of passion flower attract attention! This species is a nonwoody vine that climbs via tendrils on trees or other structures. It is native to the southeastern United States, including southern Missouri. Many people cultivate it as an ornamental vine. Credit Susan Ferber Right to Use Use of this image is restricted to MDC only 1/3 Image Right to Use Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation 2/3 Image Credit Submitted by Devon larges Right to Use Use of this image is restricted to MDC only 3/3 Image Image Image Title Similar Species Similar Species Media Yellow Passion Flower Media Canada Thistle Media Woolly Pipe-Vine Media Common Moonseed Media Cornflower (Bachelor's Button) Media Cylindrical Blazing Star (Dwarf Blazing Star) Media Curlytop Ironweed (Arkansas Ironweed) Media Mist Flower (Wild Ageratum; Blue Boneset) Media Sensitive Briar About Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants in Missouri A very simple way of thinking about the green world is to divide the vascular plants into two groups: woody and nonwoody (or herbaceous). But this is an artificial division; many plant families include some species that are woody and some that are not. The diversity of nonwoody vascular plants is staggering! Think of all the ferns, grasses, sedges, lilies, peas, sunflowers, nightshades, milkweeds, mustards, mints, and mallows — weeds and wildflowers — and many more!

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