Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

One of my favorite weeds is beginning to bloom. I'm always amazed that a flower so beautiful and exotic-looking is a native wildflower, and even considered an invasive pest by some.

Passionflower is a native, perennial vine growing in the southeastern United States. Its vine can be up to 25 feet long and climbs with axillary tendrils or sprawls along the ground. It spreads by root suckers. The vine dies back to the ground during winter, but re-emerges in the spring.

Passionflowers are often purple, but can range from a deep purple to almost pure white. All passionflowers I've found around here are white, although you can see a slight tinge of purple in some of the fringe. Many different pollinators from bees to butterflies nectar on the passionflower and it is a larval host for Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, Crimson-patch longwing, Red-banded hairstreak, Julia butterfly, Mexican butterflies.

(More information and photos at Floridata.)

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Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

Passionflower is a native, perennial vine growing in the southeastern United States. Its vine can be up to 25 feet long and climbs with axillary tendrils or sprawls along the ground. It spreads by root suckers. The vine dies back to the ground during winter, but re-emerges in the spring.

Passionflowers are often purple, but can range from a deep purple to almost pure white. All passionflowers I've found around here are white, although you can see a slight tinge of purple in some of the fringe. Many different pollinators from bees to butterflies nectar on the passionflower and it is a larval host for Gulf Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, Crimson-patch longwing, Red-banded hairstreak, Julia butterfly, Mexican butterflies.

Other common names: Apricot vine, Maypop, Purple passionflower. The name passionflower was given to the plant by early Spanish explorers and relates to the resemblance of the floral parts to aspects of the Christian crucifixion of Christ story.

Some consider passionflower and invasive weed. It does spread, but I've never found it to be all that aggressive. I consider it to be the prettiest, most exotic-looking native wildflowers you're ever going to find growing around the edges of an Arkansas cow pasture.




A Passionflower bud.




Passionflower Fruit (Maypop)

When a passionflower fruit is ripe, it turns yellow and is said to be edible, though I've never tried one. The fruit should be left to ripen on the vine and various woodland creatures are less patient than I. A ripe fruit is filled with a juicy, seedy pulp that is supposed to taste like guavas, which I've never tasted either.

If stepped on, the fruit is said to pop loudly when crushed. Hence, the name of the fruit and another common name for the passionflower plant. (I've never gone out and stomped on a maypop either. What a boring life I lead.)

Sources and Additional Information:
Floridata
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
2bn The Wild
Alabama Wildflowers
USDA Plants Database
Missouri Flora

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)