Passiflora incarnata - passion flower, Maypop

Height: to 10' (usually lower)
Spread: to 20’
Light Needs: full sun to part shade (flowers best in sun)
Water: average
Flower color: lavender
Bloom time: April to September

This is a fast-growing, herbaceous vine that uses tendrils to climb. Its stems die back to the ground each winter and it resprouts in spring. It spreads by underground rhizomes and can spread widely over time and may help with erosion control. One way to control the spread in a garden is to grow the plant in a large container that sits on a concrete paver or other obstacle. The large, showy flowers are pollinated by carpenter bees. Flowers are followed by large, hollow fruits that  contain a small amount of edible pulp. Caterpillars of gulf fritillary and variegated fritillary butterflies feed on the leaves of this plant. It has some resistance to deer damage.

Note: we do not want to control gulf fritillary caterpillars on our plants. As a result, you may see evidence of feeding and may have eggs and/or caterpillars on the plant.