Passionflower?

lostinrates

I have never had a passionflower, but dh really likes them and has just bought one. We want to plant it so it grows up a house wall.

Its hardy to -15, and we are in the south, but considering the past three/four winters might a pot be the best option so we can put it out of the weather in the worst bits? (I understand the top growth will die back to the base off season If so, what size of pot is it going to need?

poorly_scammo

Firstly, there are different cultivars of passionflower; some of which are more hardy than others. Passiflora incarnata (purple passionflower) is the hardiest and is described by the RHS as 'fully hardy but likes a sheltered spot' so you wouldn't necessarily need to put it in a pot. Other cultivars are less hardy so you would probably need a pot for it. Assuming you're going to buy a plant rather than grow it from seed - pot it on 11/2 times the size of the older pot and keep checking it to make sure it isn't pot bound (roots going round and round the pot)

I used to have a passionflower growing in my garden. No idea as to the cultivar as I didn't put it there. I can tell you though, I live in Yorkshire and it came back for about three years until I dug it up.

Davesnave

I had the bog standard one from seed in my old place and it went 30' along the side fence, while the stem became as thick as my wrist. No hard winters then though.

Eventually it died, but a self sown seedling in my neighbour's garden took over. It's still there on Street View, but that's out of date!

I would still put it in the ground. The top growth doesn't die completely, so it returns from the old wood. If you put it in a pot and remove to the shed etc, you'll have to tie it in every year.

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

I had the bog standard one from seed in my old place and it went 30' along the side fence, while the stem became as thick as my wrist. No hard winters then though.

Eventually it died, but a self sown seedling in my neighbour's garden took over. It's still there on Street View, but that's out of date!

I would still put it in the ground. The top growth doesn't die completely, so it returns from the old wood. If you put it in a pot and remove to the shed etc, you'll have to tie it in every year.

Great, thanks to both. We'll stick it in the ground. I think its a hardier 'edulis' variety. So not as hardy as all. The ground is certainly much the easiest!

alanobrien

Per above they can be rampant growers and cause damage to fencing, gutters etc so if going in the ground make sure you have access to maintain it.