Corona de Christo, Passiflora foetida
A widespread favorite of flower and butterfly gardeners,
passion vines (Passiflora sp.) are gaining
momentum for use in our suburban landscapes.
There are several native species that not only serve as larval food
plants for several species of butterflies, but also brighten our gardens with
beautifully complex blooms through much of the growing season. Well over 500
species of passiflora grow worldwide, with only 9 species native to the US, 6
of those growing in Texas, and 5 of those native or naturalized in Central
Texas.
The
Bracted Passionflower (Passiflora affinis)
is a 3 to 6 foot vine with three-lobed leaves that grows in riparian to dry
limestone areas of the Edwards Plateau.
Its greenish-yellow blooms are about an inch across, and appear from
June through August. Yellow Passionvine
(Passiflora lutea) is a longer but
quite similar looking delicate vine, with much more shallowly lobed leaves, and
almost identical flowers May through September, that give way to purple or
black berries in the fall. The hardest-to-find small passiflora vine is the
Bird-wing or Slender-lobe Passionflower (Passiflora
tenuiloba). Growing on open
limestone areas with dry, caliche soils, often over boulders or tree stumps, this
vine has very elongated and somewhat variegated leaves that look like a bird
spreading its wings. Its small blooms
are green and appear from April to October.
Yellow Passionvine, Passiflora lutea
The
most robust passifloras in our area are the Corona de Christo or Fetid Passionflower
(Passiflora foetida) and the Purple
Passionflower or Maypop (Passiflora
incarnata). The first is a fairly
aggressive climbing vine with large, three-lobed leaves longer than they are
wide, and velvety to the touch. The
flowers, which are white to pale lavender and 1-2 inches wide, open in early morning and close within a few hours. They are surrounded by thread-like bracts
that persist after the flower fades, and surround the bright red fruits like a
‘crown of thorns’.
Maypop, Passiflora incarnata
Maypop, which is
often found in local nurseries, has naturalized in our area from south and east
Texas, and is a fast-growing vine up to 25 feet long with showy, 3-inch wide
deep lavender flowers from April through September. This vine does well in full sun or part
shade, with plenty of room to climb on an arbor or along a fence or
handrail. The common name ‘Maypop’ comes
from the hollow yellow fruits that pop loudly when crushed.
The
naming of the passiflora genus of plants comes from the description of their
intricate flower parts in the early 17th century by Spanish
priests. Known by the Spanish as ‘La
Flor de las Cincos Llagas’ or ‘The Flower with Five Wounds’, the passion flower
refers to Christ’s suffering and its parts represent various elements of the crucifixion. The five petals and five sepals are the ten
disciples less Judas and Peter, the corona filaments are the crown of thorns,
the five stamen with anthers are the five sacred wounds, and the three stigma
are the nails by which Christ was bound to the cross. While this symbolism is not universal, it is
still an important reminder today in Christian societies throughout the world.
Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae
Zebra Heliconian, Heliconius charithonia
Julia Heliconian, Dryas iulia
While
many different hybrids and cultivars are sold in local nurseries, these are
mainly of subtropical origin. The extra
effort it takes to find the native species will reward you with several
spectacular butterflies visiting your yard to lay their eggs on these
vines. Among those include the Gulf and
Variegated Fritillaries, Zebra Heliconian, and Julia Heliconian. What a wonderful reason to plant these vines
of passion!
