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Maypop Red Passion Flower |
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Maypop Red Passion Flower |
Maypop has large lavender flowers that are arranged in unbelievable intricate and fantastical layers. This is one of those vines that gets a fresh start each year, so it never gets too big. It has tendrils for climbing, but will also sprawl along the ground. It produces an edible fruit. This perennial may be considered a weed and can be invasive, but is a great host plant.
Maypop is a native throughout Florida. Found in waste areas, fields, pine woods, thin live oak woods, thin scrub, fencerows, and along road sides.
Passionflower vines have special glands, called 'extrafloral nectaries' near the base of the leaves, that produce sweet liquids attractive to ants. The ants also eat the eggs and catterpillars, and thus help protect the plant from herbivores.
Host plant to the Gulf Fritillary, Julia, and the Zebra Longwing caterpillars.
Culture
Light: Full sun or partial shade
Propagation: Seeds, root shoots, cuttings. Soak seeds overnight in tepid water. Sow 1/4th inch in peaty soil. Keep 70-85 degrees. Give seed container an occasional soaking. Germination takes 30-365 days.
Soil and Fertility: Any soil, preferably rich and moist to dry. Root system is deep, and might colonize to form a groundcover.
Hardiness: Zone 7-11
Plant a Maypop where it can climb and cover an unattractive landscape element like a chain link fence. Pruning could be required to keep it within bounds.
I also have a red passion vine and a purple passion vine. I don't know what varieties they are, they were not labeled. The red one is over 10' long.
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