Originally hailing from Central and South America, passion flowers are a true marvel of the botanical world. With over 500 species of *Passiflora* discovered so far, home gardeners absolutely love them for their incredible variety of colors and intricate, alien-looking blooms. Honestly, if I tried to list every single variety, we’d be here all day! Instead, let’s take a look at some of the most popular types you might want to add to your own garden.
Blue Passion Flower (P. caerulea)
The Blue Passion Flower is the ultimate classic when it comes to backyard gardening. It’s a favorite for a good reason: it’s one of the few species that is somewhat winter-hardy. This vigorous climber can reach heights of up to 15 feet, showing off stunning blue, white, and black flowers that can grow up to 4 inches across.
Violet Passion Flower (P. violacea)
If you’re looking for a showstopper, the Violet Passion Flower is it. As you probably guessed from the name, it features gorgeous violet petals that really pop against the green foliage. These blooms also reach about 4 inches in diameter, and the climbing vine itself can stretch up to nearly 20 feet long.
Edible Passion Flowers
One of the coolest things about these plants is that some of them produce edible fruit. You’ve probably seen Maracuja or passion fruit juice at the grocery store, but nothing beats growing your own! Some of the best edible varieties include:
- P. edulis forma edulis (Maracuja)
- P. edulis forma flavicarpa (Passion Fruit)
- P. ligularis (Sweet Granadilla)
- P. incarnata (Maypop)
Generally speaking, the fruits from other passion flower species aren’t toxic, but they usually don’t taste very good, so it’s best to stick to the varieties known for their flavor.
Other Notable Varieties
If you live in a colder climate, *Passiflora incarnata* (the Maypop) is a rockstar—it can actually survive winters as cold as -4°F if you give it some solid winter protection. Red passion flowers are also huge hits because of their exotic look, though they can be a bit more “diva-like” when it comes to their care and maintenance. Other fan favorites include the Water Lemon (*Passiflora laurifolia*), the Sea Anemone Passion Flower (*Passiflora actinia*), and the fragrant *Passiflora x belotii*.
