The Passiflora, or passion flower, originally hails from the sunny tropics of Central and South America. Because of those roots, these beauties are used to much warmer vibes than our chilly North American winters usually provide. To keep your passion flower happy and healthy, your best bet is to give it a good prune in the fall and bring it indoors before the first frost hits.
These climbers can get huge
Since passion flowers are vigorous climbing vines, many of the 500+ species can easily skyrocket to 15 feet or more during the summer growing season. Let’s be real: most of us don’t have a spare room with enough space (or light!) to house a massive 15-foot vine over the winter.
How to handle the pruning
Before you move your plant into its winter quarters, you’ll need to do some “haircut” prep. Start by removing the side shoots, then go ahead and cut back the main stems until they are only about 6 to 8 inches long. It might feel a bit drastic, but don’t worry—it helps the plant conserve energy so it can come back swinging next spring!
