We have a collection of unusual Passifloras (see next page for pictures)
Formal introductions are generally not considered necessary when breeding passionflowers.
Purple Haze (left) and caerulea
Passiflora caerulea
We have several forms of this plant from a very pale form by the greenhouse to a very dark one on the shed opposite. This year (2006) a lot of fruit seem to have set on these all over the country. Most will be allowed to rot on the plant which is a shame as they are edible. The thing is that they are cookers rather than eaters. They are insipid raw, but if cooked with apple in a pie they add a rather sophisticated blackberry-like flavour.
Passiflora caerulea 'Constance Elliott'
This is the completely white form of caerulea. A most attractive plant and totally hardy.
Passiflora x violacea
Sometimes called caerulearacemosa as it is a caerulea X racemosa hybrid. We now have 3 forms of this cross. The quite well known and very free flowering but somewhat palen'Eynsford Gem' ('Victoria' is similar), the really dramatic darker and closer to the original cross'Tresederi' (sometimes known as the Cornish variety) which is less free flowering and an intermediate form from Reads of Norfolk which has some of the best of both worlds.
This cross caused a lot of controversy in the horticultural world when it was first published by Mr Milne of Fulham in XXXX not least because he declared it to be more beautiful than either of its parents. I can sympathise with the plant having been on the receiving end of such comparisons myself. My first sight of it was at the National Collection. I also came across a contemporary painting of the early cross when I was teaching in Sandwell Education Authority. I was with a residential group of year 6 children at Ingestre Hall, a creative arts centre in an old stately home.
Passiflora alata
The beautiful and sweetly scented Passiflora alata is tender and a bit tricky to overwinter but if happy flowers extremely freely. As with all passionflowers allowing it to grow up to about 5 feet then trail down and round will help to trigger flowering if it is reluctant. The fruit are most impressive too.
Passiflora x decaisneana
This is the plant that you will find labelled as 'Quadrangularis' in this country and sold under that name. It is actually a hybrid of Quadrangularis and Alata and much easier to overwinter than the real Quadrangularis. I've not had any flowers off it yet. Stop press - see gallery. My plant is very dramatic but not like pictures of P decaisneana that I have seen. It is probably a similar alata X quadrangularis cross.
Passilora x exoniensis
A hybrid of Antioquiensis and Mollissima. If you buy 'Antioquiensis' in this country then this is what you will almost certainly get. A lovely plant!
Passiflora mixta
A species type similar to Exoniensis but more orange in colour and with flowers more upright
Passiflora 'Amethyst'
This is sometimes sold as Amethystina, which is in fact a non hardy plant requiring high temperatures in winter. I recently saw one in flower at Reads of Norfolk garden. It was a good-looking plant. This more humble plant is very nearly hardy, surviving uncovered in a sheltered part of the garden. Recently it has emerged that it has a prior claim to the name 'Kewensis' than the plant that has traditionally been sold under that name. To avoid cinfusion John Vanderplank of the National Collection of Passiflora has proposed that this should remain as Amethyst (= P. kewensis var. Amethyst) but that Kewensis should be known as 'Kew Gardens'. As we grow both plants, we will be labelling them according to his proposal.
Passiflora foetida hirsutissima This plant has been described as a tropical weed and grows very strongly. It flowers in the morning and closes by mid afternoon. It's also known as the goat scented passionflower and this refers to the smell if you crush the leaves. It sets fruit readily and I'm told they are very tasty.
Passiflora 'Aurora' A hybrid of Foetida with similar characteristics. Very pretty.
Passiflora 'Kew Gardens' See comments on 'Amethyst'. A very pretty pink flowered form. Not as vigorous as some and I'm still waiting for it to flower. Stop press see gallery for flowering in 2007
Passiflora edulis 'Norfolk' A commercially used variety of the passionfruit you find in supermarkets. We are looking forward to our first crop. (If I look after it a bit better in 2008)
Passiflora 'Andy'
This pretty hybrid of caerulea was bred G Van Herck and named after a friend of his. It has flowers which often stick closed and small, somewhat deformed sex organs. I can only assume that the friend was delighted at the honour.
Passiflora 'St Rule' An old English hybrid. You either love the scent (me) or hate it (Dawn). Small flowers.
Passiflora x belotii A hybrid of caerulea and alata with big flowers and an overpoweringly sweet scent. Not hardy but in my opinion the best passiflora for conservatory growing (though now see comments on Marijke), easy and tolerant.
Passiflora 'Marijke' A hybrid of decaisneana caerulea with big flowers which are red and a sweet scent. Not hardy but in my opinion the best passiflora for conservatory growing, easy and tolerant. We will see how it develops over time.
Passiflora x allardii Similar to Belottii but with a sharper more citrusy scent. (Caerulea Constance Elliott X Quadrangularis.
Passiflora actinia
A beautiful spring flowering species, scented flowers. Hardy but needs heated protection to flower well. In 2010 we were asked if our photo of actinia could be used on the website of
Over the past couple of years we have had quite a few passionflowers come and go, I am in the process of getting photos as they come into flower and adding them to the next page. I'll put some comments here as I find out which ones are easiest to grow and most impressive.