The passion flower is a very popular potted plant for the balcony or terrace. It is also suitable for beginners, but has some maintenance requirements. In this article you will learn how they grow and what they need for optimal growth.
What is the best way to grow passion flowers?
Passion flowers are perennial, evergreen climbing plants that can grow 3 to 8 meters high. For optimal growth, they need a bright, sunny location, well-drained and always moist soil, and regular pruning.
How do passion flowers grow?
Passion flowers areperennial, evergreen climbing plantsand mainly come from Central and South America. Only a few of the more than 500 species are shrubs or trees. Strong-growing species can even grow shoots up to eight meters long. They form tendrils on their leaf axils, which they use to climb up other plants or climbing aids. Their trademark are theirunique flowers in blue, red, white or yellow. Passionflowers bloom from early summer to fall. Some species produce edible fruits, for example the well-known passion fruit (passiflora edulis).
How tall do passion flowers grow?
The fast-growing passion flowers can growof different heightsdue to their diversity. Weak-growing plants can reach heights of up to three meters. The shoots of strong growing specimens can even growup to eight meters per year. Depending on the type, care and pruning, you can keep your passion flower in your home between half a meter and six meters high. Thanks to their good growth, passion flowers, with a suitable climbing aid, are ideal as a flowering, evergreen privacy screen on terraces and balconies.
What do passion flowers need for optimal growth?
For optimal growth, passion flowers need abright and sunny locationas well as permeable andalways moist soilWaterlogging should be avoided in any case. This means you can enjoy their magnificent flowers for a long time.
Passion flowers are often kept as houseplants and in pots. Since only a few species are hardy, the frost-sensitive plants should move to protected winter quarters in the fall. If your passionflower grows in a pot, a mobile trellis directly in the pot is a good idea.
Let passion flowers grow freely or cut back?
Since passion flowers can grow up to six, sometimes even eight meters high depending on the type,pruning is necessary depending on the location The main pruning takes place in early spring. Shorten the side shoots to three to five eyes. This will encourage the growth of numerous flower buds and shoot tips. To make overwintering easier, you can cut the shoots back to the height of your trellis again in late autumn.
Tip
Attention! Some types of passionflower are poisonous
Inquire whether your species is poisonous or not. To be safe, be sure to use gloves when pruning to protect yourself from symptoms of poisoning. You should also find a suitable location for poisonous plants so that children and pets are not endangered.
