Maypop Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)

Beautiful flowers, fragrance and succulent fruit are characteristic of this native North American passion flower. Passiflora incarnata emerges in late spring, but this fast-growing perennial vine can reach more than 20’ in a single season. Multiple stems arise from the roots creating a nice, full specimen. Mid-summer to fall, dozens of 3”wide flowers with creamy pinkish-lavender petals and fully banded corollas appear daily, and they have a sweet fragrance. This is the hardiest of the passion flowers since it grows as far north as New England. ‘Maypop’ must be cross pollinated with another hardy passion flower to produce fruit. Passion flower tincture or tea is used in herbal medicine to help relieve anxiety and promote sleep.
Special note: Maypop Passion Flower dies back to the ground every fall and the plant doesn’t re-emerge until late spring, usually by the end of May or early June.