The stunning, intricate blooms of the passionflower often tempt plant lovers without a backyard or balcony to try growing them indoors. But before you run to the nursery, here’s the scoop: out of the 500+ species of *Passiflora*, only a select few actually thrive as houseplants.
A Question of Growth
Passionflowers are classic climbing vines. Even if you gave yours a good pruning back in the fall, these vigorous growers can easily reach several feet in height during the spring and summer. Because they love to take over, you’ll want to stick to smaller, more compact species if you’re planning to keep them inside.
The Best Varieties for Indoors
If you’re looking for a variety that plays well with others indoors, check out these favorites:
- Blue Passionflower (*P. caerulea*)
- Lemon Passionflower (*P. citrina*)
- Crimson Passionflower (*P. vitifolia*)
- Orange Passionflower (*P. aurantia*)
If you’re all about those show-stopping, oversized blooms, the Crimson Passionflower is your best bet. Its flowers can reach up to 6 inches in diameter and feature a vibrant, fiery red color that really pops in a living room.
A High-Maintenance Hobby
I’ll be honest with you: growing passionflowers indoors isn’t exactly “set it and forget it.” They require a fair amount of care and attention. You’ll need to keep the soil consistently moist, but be careful—they hate “wet feet,” so make sure you aren’t letting them sit in standing water.
Don’t Forget the Fertilizer
Nutrients are the secret sauce for a healthy *Passiflora*. Since indoor plants usually get less intense sunlight than their outdoor cousins, regular fertilizing is absolutely vital to keep them blooming. Use a liquid fertilizer mixed into your watering can at least every two weeks. For indoor passionflowers, I actually recommend feeding them once a week during the growing season to keep them looking their best.
