With their stunning, otherworldly blooms, passionflowers (*Passiflora*) are a total favorite for gardeners. But hey, even if you don’t have a sprawling backyard, you don’t have to miss out! You can absolutely grow passionflowers on your balcony. You just need to keep a few specific tips in mind to keep them happy.
Location, Location, Location
While there are over 500 species of passionflower out there, only a handful really thrive in balcony containers. The biggest factor for success? Which way your balcony faces. Since *Passiflora* is native to South and Central America, these beauties are total sun-worshippers. If you want those gorgeous blooms, you’ll need a balcony that faces south or southwest to soak up all that warmth and light.
The Best Varieties for Your Balcony
If you’re looking for the perfect potted companion for your outdoor space, these varieties are your best bet:
- P. caerulea (Blue Passionflower)
- P. vitifolia (Crimson Passionflower)
- P. mollissima (Banana Passionfruit)
- P. morifolia (Mulberry-leaf Passionflower)
- P. ligularis (Sweet Granadilla)
- P. edulis (Common Passionfruit)
- P. antioquiensis (Red Banana Passionflower)
One of the best things about passionflowers compared to other climbing plants is that they aren’t “wall-huggers.” They won’t dig into your siding or brickwork; instead, they prefer to wrap their delicate tendrils around a trellis or support. This makes them a great choice for apartment dwellers since you won’t have to worry about damaging the building or upsetting the neighbors!
Overwintering Your Passionflowers
Because these plants are tropical at heart, they can’t handle a chilly winter outdoors. Even the “hardy” varieties usually struggle in pots when the temperature drops. To keep yours alive for next year, you’ll need to give them a good pruning in the fall before bringing the pots inside. Find them a bright spot indoors—ideally somewhere cool, around 50°F (10°C). Once the threat of frost has passed in the spring, you can move them back outside to start the show all over again!
