Care of the climbing plant Passiflora x decaisneana or Passion Flower |
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The genus Passiflora, family Passifloraceae, comprises 400 species of climbing plants native to America, Australia and Asia. Some species are: Passiflora x decaisneana, Passiflora vitifolia, Passiflora caerulea, Passiflora cincinnata, Passiflora edulis, Passiflora x violacea, Passiflora manicata, Passiflora antioquiensis, Passiflora incarnata, Passiflora actinia, Passiflora murucuja. Common name: Passion Flower. It's a hybrid between the Passiflora alata and Passiflora quadrangularis species. They are fast growing semi-perennial climbing plants that reach 9 meters (29.5 feet) in height. The leaves are large, oval-hearth and deep green. The curious, scented flowers are large and maroon, purple, and white. They bloom in summer and early fall. They produce edible fruits; indoors they do not usually bear fruit if there are no pollinating insects. They are used as indoor or greenhouse plants; in tropical and subtropical climates they are used to cover walls, fences or pergolas. Passiflora x decaisneana needs a well-lit exposure avoiding direct sun in the central hours of the day. In winter the temperature should not be less than 10 ºC (50 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of leaf mulch with compost, peat moss, and coarse sand. Water regularly with lime-free water in spring and summer; reduce watering in fall and winter water sparingly. It's important that the humidity is high: place a plate with damp pebbles under the pot and spray the plant often in summer. Fertilize in autumn with compost and in spring and summer with mineral fertilizer every 3 weeks. Prune lightly in late winter to control growth and maintain a compact appearance. They can be attacked by fungi if the drainage is not correct and by aphids and mites if the environmental humidity is low. They are propagated from seeds sown in a mixture of sand and peat or by cuttings placed to root under glass at 21 ºC (69.8 ºF). |
Images of the climbing plant Passiflora x decaisneana or Passion Flower |
 Passiflora x decaisneana  Passiflora x decaisneana  Passiflora x decaisneana  Passiflora x decaisneana  Passiflora x decaisneana  Passiflora x decaisneana |