Passiflora Incarnata 'Maypop'

Hardy Passion Flower - Unique and Striking Vine
Native to the southeastern United States, the Passiflora Incarnata or 'Maypop' is a hard to find, unique and striking vine - the only winter hardy passion flower vine.

Discovered in the early 1600's, passion-flowers were given their name because early explorers interpreted its unusual structure of the flowers to be emblematic of the crucifixion of Christ. The five petals and five septals of the flower symbolize the ten disciples (minus Judas and Peter). The outer fringe represents the halo over Christ's head or the crown of thorns. The five stamens and the knob-like stigmas of the pistil respectively signify the number of wounds that Christ received, and the nails. This is not the only creative interpretation of the 'Maypop' other cultures have other takes on the blooms' distinctive structure; in Japan it is called the 'Clock Plant'. There are over 400 species in the passiflora genus, but the 'Maypop' is the only one that is native to the United States.

'Maypop' - Exotic and Easy to Grow
Given its common name because of the way it "pops" out of the ground every May, the 'Maypop' is a very distinctive and fast growing vine that blooms from July through September. The exotic, two and a half inch flowers have white petals with a showy central fringed crown of lavender and purple thread like filaments. There is a pleasant lemon-musk fragrance. Edible, egg-shaped fleshy fruits, with sweet pulp, mature to yellow in autumn. The vine is covered in lush, dark green foliage that is serrated, lobed and five to six inches long. Tendrils are used to pull the vine up to its height of eight to twelve feet, letting it grow up fences, trellises, and tree trunks or scramble over shrubs or up slopes.

'Maypop' is reliably hardy in zone 7 through zone 9. It may live over the winter throughout zone 6 and into the warmer parts of zone 5 as long as the roots are protected with a deep mulch, or the vine grows in a protected spot.

'Maypop' is deciduous; it will die down to the ground every fall, but will emerge again in the spring and will become the perfect addition to your garden. 'Maypops' require very little maintenance beyond normal watering and fertilizing. Be sure to use a low nitrogen fertilizer, as too much nitrogen will cause the 'Maypop' to grow vigorously, but not flower. 'Maypops' spread modestly by underground runners and should be planted where they are free to spread.

Planting and Care

• Plant in spring or early summer.

• Prefers moist well-drained soil in full sun to light shade.

• Plant 6 to 8 feet apart.

• Pay particular attention to water regularly until established.

• Mulch well in areas where severe cold is a threat.

• Three to four inches of a loose mulch, such as pine needles, is recommended.

• Fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer such as Flower-Tone.

• Cut back to the ground each spring.

• From 1 quart pots.

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