Free Passiflora Caerulea Plants

acalypha hispida plant
Provided cultural conditions are suitable, the Passiflora will produce its unusual and beautiful flowers in near continuous succession from summer to early autumn. With luck, these may be followed by the yellow to orange fruits. This plant is tidy and compact when young, but soon produces long, straggly growth with tendrils that latch on to almost anything nearby. It must therefore be carefully and regularly trained around an adequate supporting frame. Ifspace is limited, the growth can be cut back hard each spring to keep the plant to a more manageable size. The Passiflora is a hardy subject, requiring cool conditions. In summer it can be stood outdoors if desired.

Plant type : Flowering plant with climbing habit
Season of interest : Summer to early autumn
Size : 60-250cm (24-98in)
Flower : 7.5cm (3ln) across, formed of five white sepals and five white petals with purple blue filaments radiating from centre, and with five yellow anthers and three brown stigmas, occasionally followed by 5cm (2in) yellow to orange fruit
Leaf : Lance-like, lobed, 7.5-10cm (3—4in), dark green, in clusters of five to nine
Temperature : 16—21 °C (61 -70°F)
Aspect/Light : Well-lit position with sunlight
Humidity : Moderate to high
Watering : Evenly moisten compost in spring and summer, allowing to dry a little before re-watering; keep on dry side in autumn and winter
Feeding : Once every two to three weeks with flowering plant fertilizer in spring and summer
Propagation : Plant 10cm (4in) tip or stem cuttings in seed and cutting compost at 18—20°C (65—68°F) in early to mid summer
Potting : Houseplant potting compost
Problems : Aphid
Availability : Occasionally available in spring and early summer
Uses indoors : Windowsill plant when small, then as floor-standing plant close to patio window or in conservatory