Maypop: Passiflora incarnata

Passionvine (Passiflora incarnata) is a Florida native vine commonly known as Maypop. Individual vines can grow up to 36 feet in length. Passionvine blooms from Spring through Autumn and individual flowers are 6 to 7 centimeters across and fragrant. Maypop is deciduous and will lose all leaves during cold and may die back to the root in hard freezes.

The vine spreads by seed and root and can become hard to contain in one area. After planting Passionvine you may begin to find it jumping the borders of your flower beds and sometimes springing up many feet away from where it was originally planted. If given an upright climbing surface such as a fence or trellis, Passionvine will readily reach for the sky. The vine grows with incredible speed and can cover a four foot chain link fence in just about three to four weeks of growth. Once established Passionvine is drought tolerant and extremely hearty.

An amazingly useful butterfly plant, Passionvine is host to the Florida state butterfly the Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charitonius) and is also a host to the Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), and the Julia Longwing (Dryas julia).

Several other species of passionvine are native to Florida including Yellow Passion Vine (Passiflora lutea), Corky Stemmed Passionvine (Passiflora suberosa) and several endangered species including White Flower Passionvine (Passiflora multiflora) Pineland Passionvine (Passiflora pallens) and Goatsfoot (Passiflora sexflora) which are mainly found in extreme Southern parts of the state. Many other species of passiflora exist around the world and some have incredibly showy or fragrant blooms. It should be noted that red flowering species of passionvine often have waxy leaves that cannot be eaten by the butterfly larvae. If purchasing plants for your butterfly garden try to stick with the native species or some hybrid thereof.

This amazing vine is currently blooming away in the Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove.

From the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center: “The plants were given the name Passionflower or Passion vine because the floral parts were once said to represent aspects of the Christian crucifixion story, sometimes referred to as the Passion. The 10 petal-like parts represent Jesus' disciples, excluding Peter and Judas; the 5 stamens the wounds Jesus received; the knob-like stigmas the nails; the fringe the crown of thorns.”