Passiflora caerulea (Blue passion flower)

Botanical name

Passiflora caerulea

Other names

Blue passion flower, Blue crown, Common passion flower, Flower of five wounds, Southern beauty, Wild apricot, Passiflora mayana, Passiflora chinensis, Blue passion vine

Genus

Passiflora Passiflora

Species

P. caerulea - P. caerulea is a vigorous, deciduous to semi-evergreen climber with glossy, dark green leaves divided into five to seven, oblong lobes and, from summer into autumn, white flowers with purple- and blue-zoned coronas, sometimes followed by ovoid, yellow-orange fruit.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Climbing

Toxicity

Harmful if eaten.

Awards

RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)

Colour

Flower

Flushed blue, Blue, White, Flushed purple in Summer

Foliage

Dark-green in All seasons

How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Red spider mite (box and other) , Mealybugs , Glasshouse red spider mite , Scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

General care

Pruning

Pruning group 11 or 12 in early spring.

Propagation methods

Layering, Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings

Monthly care advice

Where to grow

Passiflora caerulea (Blue passion flower) will reach a height of 10m and a spread of 1m after 5-10 years.

Suggested uses

Conservatory, Low Maintenance, Containers, Sub-Tropical, Wallside and trellises

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained in a sheltered, sunny or partially-shaded site. In cold areas, grow in a container and overwinter indoors. Site carefully as may overwhelm other plants.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Passiflora caerulea (Blue passion flower)

Common pest name

Black scale; Coffee scale; black; Nigra scale

Scientific pest name

Parasaissetia nigra

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Present at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew for in excess of 100 years. Candidate for deregulation.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Passiflora caerulea (Blue passion flower)

Common pest name

Fruit fly; Queensland; Queensland fruit fly

Scientific pest name

Bactrocera tryoni

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Australian fruit fly never intercepted in the UK. EU regulation appears to be effectively mitigating risk.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Passiflora caerulea (Blue passion flower)

Common pest name

Scientific pest name

Epicauta atomaria

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

1

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

South American blister beetle; affecting solanaceous crops which (as plants for planting) are prohibited from entering the UK.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/