The flowers are 5-8 inches in diameter
The edible fruit is 5 - 10 Cm Long
These are climbing or trailing vines that are somewhat aggressive, left alone they will overtake your yard. They bloom gorgeous flowers and have a slight faint smell to them. They also bloom fruits, the very famous passion fruit. They like full sun but will grow in partial shade. They are perennials, meaning their life span is 3 years or more, depending upon the conditions of your garden. They bloom during the Spring and summer. They are a source of food for caterpillars, especially the melpomene, Sara and rosina butterfly larvae.
There are several species of this flower and they come in many colors: Mostly purple, but also white, red, orange and pink. Most are varigated (I.e. White and purple)
Early spanish and Potugese missionaries believed each part of the passiflora represented a different aspect of the passion of Jesus Christ, hence its name, "passion Vine" The stigma are thought to represent the three nails used to nail Christ to the cross. The center column of the flower is thought to represent the cross itself, while the small violet colored filaments that surround its base represent the crown of thorns. The five petals and five sepals are thought to represent the 10 disciples present at the crucifixion and christs resurrection on the third day is represented by the three underleaves |
