Passion flower: A climbing aid makes sense

Created: 05/28/2022, 08:29

By: Joana Lück

With their exotic-looking flowers, passion flowers are an absolute eye-catcher.

But what to do if the plant refuses to flower at all?

Leipzig – Believe it or not, there are 500 different varieties of the passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) in the wild – if you count the cultivated species, you quickly come to over 700 varieties of the beautiful plant from the passion flower family.

The three main types are yellow, purple and red. Their fruits are the popular sweet and sour passion fruit.

Passion flower: If it is too shady, it will not bloom

If passion flowers are too young, they will not flower.

(Iconic image) © HR Mueller/Imago

Passion flowers bring balconies, beds and greenhouses to life and give them a touch of the exotic.

Here are the reasons why your passion flowers won't bloom:

• They don't give the passion flower enough space: according to Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk ("MDR"), passion flowers aim high.

  The climbing plants thrive in the tub, but need a climbing aid.

  According to the MDR, they climb bamboo scaffolding, stretched ropes or simply the balcony railing.

  Passion flowers are between three and eight meters high, depending on the strength of the shoots.

• The flower is too shady: Basically, all passion flowers need a sunny to semi-shady location.

  A missing flower can indicate too little sun, as can too thin, long stems.

• You keep the flower as a houseplant: some types of passion flower love conservatories and greenhouses, others sheltered locations on the balcony.

  However, you should not keep the plant as a houseplant, as the varieties that like it warm and rather humid grow very large and very wide.

  However, there are small species that can in principle be kept as houseplants.

• Anthracnose is one of the most common diseases in passionflower.

  Especially in hot and rainy weather, the disease is widespread and leads to wilted leaves and leaf loss.

  It can also lead to rotten passion fruit, which is initially recognized by oily-looking spots.

  Anthracnose also causes the flowers to wilt or not develop at all.

  Therefore, examine your plant very closely to identify the type of pest.

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Note that the hydrocyanic acid in the leaves, shoots, and unripe passionflower pods is mildly toxic to humans, but can even be fatal to cats and other animals!

Passion flower: The plant as a remedy

It has been proven for a long time that herbs have a calming effect on the body and psyche.

So you can use a homemade marigold ointment for inflammation and minor injuries.

Like lavender, passion flower can make it easier to fall asleep and has an effect on nervous restlessness.

It is usually used in combination with medicinal herbs that have a similar effect.