Common Name: Blue Passion Flower

General Information

Passiflora caerulea is an evergreen climbing plant producing annual to perennial shoots 3 - 10 metres long from a perennial rhizomatous rootstock. These shoots scramble over the ground, or clamber into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of coiling tendrils. The plant spreads by means of root suckers and can form thickets[, ].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local use, though it is not widely appreciated[]. The plant is often grown as an ornamental[].
Introduced as an attractive flowering plant to many parts of the world, Passiflora caerulea has escaped from cultivation in several countries, becoming established in the wild, where it can suppress the establishment of native species. It is viewed as invasive in New Zealand, Hawaii, offshore Chilean islands and possibly other Pacific islands[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Southern S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Edges of secondary vegetation, forests and a weed of hedgerows. Found in both both xerophytic areas and wet forests, especially at the forest edge, growing on modified, sandy, clayey or rocky soils; at elevations from sea level to 1,400 metres[, ].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Passiflora caerulea is a plant of the subtropical to tropical zones of South America, usually growing at elevations above about 500 metres in the tropics. Dormant plants are hardy to about -15°c, if they are cut down to the ground by frost then they will usually regenerate from the base[].
Requires a well-drained soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season, otherwise it is not fussy[, ]. Dislikes highly alkaline soils[]. Passiflora species tend to flower and fruit more freely when grown in soils of only moderate fertility[].
A very fast growing plant[]. Roots of outdoor grown plants should be restricted to encourage fruiting[].
Plants can flower and fruit in their first year from seed[].
The plant has a very long flowering period, from early summer to early autumn, though individual flowers only live for about 48 hours[]. The flowers are open all night and start to close in the morning[]. The flowers are delicately scented[]. The cultivar 'Constance Elliot' is more fragrant[].
If fruit is required, especially when the plant is grown indoors, it is best to hand pollinate using pollen from a flower that has been open for 12 hours to pollinate a newly opened flower before midday[, ]. The flowers open in sunny weather and do not open on dull cloudy days[].
Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be cut back to ground level if required to rejuvenate the plant[]. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. The unripe fruits are cooked[], whilst the ripe fruits are eaten raw or made into a refreshing drink[]. The fresh fruit is used as an ingredient in marmalades, syrups, beverages, juices, stews or ice-creams[]. The flavour is not very desirable[]. The fruit is up to 6cm long and 4cm wide, it is partly hollow and contains a small amount of pleasant acid-tasting pulp surrounding a quantity of seeds[].

The flowers can be made into a syrup[].

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is reputed to have herbal activity as a sedative and anticonvulsant[].

The leaves and roots of some, if not all, members of this genus contain a substance called 'passiflorina' which has similaritiesr to morphine and is an effective tranquilizer[]. We have no specific information for this species but many species are used in herbal infusions to calm the nerves and help bring about a restful sleep[].
The leaves of many species are also considered to be anthelmintic, antihysteric and diaphoretic. They are used in Brazil to combat intermittent fevers, cutaneous inflammations, and erysipelas[].

Other Uses

This plant can be used as a rootstock for some of the less hardy members of this genus, conferring on them an additional cold tolerance. Be careful that root suckers do not take over from the grafted plant[].

An extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow late winter or early spring in a warm greenhouse. If sown in January and grown on fast it can flower and fruit in its first year[]. The seed germinates in 1 - 12 months at 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. It you are intending to grow the plants outdoors, it is probably best to keep them in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Mulch the roots well in late autumn to protect them from the cold.
Cuttings of young shoots, 15cm with a heel, in spring[].
Leaf bud cuttings in spring.
Cuttings of fully mature wood in early summer. Takes 3 months. High percentage[].