First Year Seasonal Growth of Passion Flowers

Propagation and Planting

• Passion flowers may be grown from seed that is less than one year old, but plants sold commercially are started from cuttings. Cuttings are rooted under mist in green houses until 12 to 18 inches tall. Young vines need to be trained at planting. They grow quickly and produce a handful of flowers the first year. Vines from cuttings will produce more quickly and may even fruit the first year. The vines will grow more quickly if they get adequate water and food during establishment. The plant may grow 15 to 20 feet per year in ideal conditions.

Care in the First Season

• Grow passion flowers in full sun for the best bloom and fruit production. The vines are shallow-rooted and benefit from a thick layer of mulch at the base. The soil must remain moist, especially during fruiting. The young vines should be trained to a support trellis for the first few months until they have grown enough to self-climb. The plant will send out tendrils shortly after planting but generally needs to attain height to begin attaching itself to a surface. Fertilize passion flowers four times per year with a 10-5-20 plant food. Pruning is not necessary for the first year.

Hardiness

• Passion vines are not reliably hardy in cooler climates and should be treated as annuals in most zones. Yellow passion vines can survive temperatures of 26 degrees Fahrenheit but expect vine dieback. In spring the plant will re-sprout. Production is higher the second year after the roots have had a season to harvest and store energy. Plants that do not die back will go dormant but resume vigorous growth in the second season. Purple passion vines can withstand temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flowers

• Passion flowers are borne on each node of new growth. Once the vine is large enough to self-climb, it will send out buds. The flowers in the first year are fully formed and are 2 to 3 inches wide. The blooms are comprised of three bracts, five sepals, five petals and a fringed corona in the center. Each flower has five elongated stamens with large anthers. The fruit produced the first year may be slightly smaller than successive years but is fully formed and carries up to 250 small, blackish-brown seeds.