Most types of passionflower come from the tropical regions of South America and are sensitive to cooler temperatures. In this article you will find out how to recognize frost damage to passion flowers and how you can treat and prevent it.
What to do if passionflower is frozen?
A frozen passion flower shoot turns brown and dry. Remove the dead shoots and give the plant time to recover in spring. Protect them from frost by moving them to frost-free winter quarters or covering them with cold protection in the garden.
How do I know if my passion flower is frozen?
If the shoots of your passionflower are brown and bare after winterand do not sprout again in early summer, they are probably frozen. However, some yellow leaves in autumn and winter are normal and not a cause for concern. If you are not sure, cut off a shoot and look closely at the cut surface: If it is brown and dry, the shoot is frozen. However, if it is still green, it will sprout again in the summer.
Can I save a frozen passionflower?
Frozen shootscannot be saved and die. But that doesn't mean that you have to throw away the entire plant straight away. Cut back the dried shoots and give the passionflower some time. With a bit of luck it will recover and sprout again in spring.
How can I prevent my passion flower from freezing?
It is best if you bring your passionflowerinside during the cold season The winter quarters should be as bright and cool as possible, but frost-free. Make sure that the plants are not exposed to drafts where they are located. Keep the soil slightly moist over the winter months, but avoid waterlogging. After the last frost, you can slowly get your passion flower used to its outdoor location again.
Can my passion flower overwinter outdoors?
If you don't have the opportunity to move your passionflower indoors over the winter, you can also overwinter hardy species in the garden. These include the varieties caerula and incarnata. Hardy passion flowers can withstand temperatures down to -15 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, you should protect them with brushwood, pine branches, fleece or something similar. Thinner vines will likely die, but thicker vines will survive the winter and stay green. In spring, remove the cold protection early so that the plant gets sun and warmth.
Tip
Cutting back passion flowers in winter
Container plants that are moved to frost-free winter quarters are cut back in autumn. Hardy passion flowers that are left outside over the winter, on the other hand, are only pruned in spring, as the fresh wounds increase the risk of frost damage.
