Passiflora incarnata (Passion flower) 2 Litre Pot

Growth habit & appearance:Passiflora incarnata is a twining, woody climber reaching around 2–3 metres, with fresh green, three-lobed leaves and striking white to lavender flowers ringed with a fine purple corona. Our plants are raised from root cuttings in our nursery in Co. Clare, producing bushy, well-rooted vines ready to cover arches, trellis or a bright corner of the polytunnel. There are many varieties of Passion flower, some are even very hardy and product similar flowers, but Passiflora incarnata is the only one used medicinally and is not hardy. 

Growing conditions:This is a half-hardy perennial in Ireland and is best grown under cover in a polytunnel or glasshouse, or against a very sheltered south-facing wall in milder gardens. It prefers full sun, fertile but free-draining soil and benefits from a deep mulch around the roots to keep them cool. Protect from frost in winter and cold winds in spring. At Ivywood we offer only a limited number of passion flower plants each year, usually available from May to September when conditions are suitable for planting out.

Traditional & herbal uses: Passion flower leaf and flower are widely used in modern herbal practice for stress-related tension, mild anxiety, restlessness and difficulty getting to sleep. Extracts are considered gently calming and antispasmodic, with modulation of GABA activity and support for more settled sleep architecture. Contemporary European and North American formularies often pair Passiflora with other relaxing herbs in blends for busy, overactive minds, stress-linked palpitations and digestive discomfort that is aggravated by nervous tension.

Maintenance & harvesting:Train young vines onto strong wires or trellis and pinch back overly vigorous tips to encourage branching. In Ireland, growth will usually die back after the first hard frosts; cut back to healthy wood in late winter and protect the crown with a dry mulch if grown outdoors. Protect from excessive wet ground in winter will help it survive. Under cover, keep just just moist in winter and feed lightly through the main growing season. Leaves and flowers are typically harvested in midsummer when the vine is in full bloom, then dried quickly in a warm, airy place. Because we produce Passiflora incarnata in small numbers, many growers choose to keep one plant as a long-term “mother” vine for future cuttings.