Wow its beatiful I have one but it hasnt bloomed yet cant wait.
Angie

That is really beautiful, Miss Sherry. If I had any GFs around I would love to have that vine but I haven't seen any now in a couple of years. But the flower is gorgeous. Murray

Murray - where are you located? Are you on the edge of their zone?

MissSherry - that is a stunning flower. Wonder if it's hardy here?

I was totally surprised to see that my P. 'Lavendar Lady' is peeking thru the ground. It has NEVER come up this early. P. ceurulea is also, but this is its first winter in the ground for me, so I didn't really know what to expect.

I'd love to grow some more passi's but not a lot are hardy in my zone 7.

Can't get over that color! Do you expect to get lots of flowers? My GFs usually eat the flowers, but I had tons of flowers on LL last year because the dratted stink bugs got a lot of my caterpillars.

Susan

MissSherry, I'd like to know your source for your passi's. Is it Grassy Knoll? I checked out the website and Elizabeth has so many cultivars and species, I was thinking of ordering from her. All her passi's are $15. each, BUT you can order rooted cuttings for $3. If she doesn't already have a rooted cutting, she will root one for you (takes 6 weeks). I like the idea of rooted cuttings, too.

Just wondered! The only problem I have with her site is that it is not exactly accurate on the hardiness zones, but that's often the case with a lot of exotic plant purveyors. For instance, 'Lavendar Lady' was listed as hardy to zone 8, but I've been growing in 7a for years!

Susan

Yes, Susan, I got most of mine from Grassy Knoll, but I also got a few from Georgia Vines and Woodlander's. The exact hardiness zone isn't really known for many passis. I experimented with 'Lady Margaret' last year, and, unfortunately she hasn't come back this year - guess the p. coccinea half of her made her too cold tender.
I've got lots of other new passis that are growing prolifically, but haven't bloomed yet - I'll let y'all know how they progress.
Sherry

Lady Margaret is a very pretty passi, too! Maybe she will come up later, like my Lavendar Lady did for so many years. Keeping my fingers crossed! I think Sandy has Lady Margaret, too, but she probably overwintered hers indoors.

Susan

Wow, I was floored when I saw that. Stunning!

Sherry,

What an absolutely incredibly beautiful passi! I can't wait to see photos of the other ones you got. Sometimes I go to the Passiflora forum and I've seen your posts there. I'd love to grow them, but they'd have to be grown in pots here.

My Lady Margaret had new growth earlier this spring, but now it is deader than a door nail. I had kept it in the garage until early April. I found a new one last Saturday at our local Herb Festival. I will definitely keep it in a sheltered place until all sign of cold weather has passed. I think I'll also try to root some cuttings-- just in case.

I've also added some other tropical plants that you've posted. I got a Sweet Almond Verbena, a Coral Vine, and a Mexican Love vine from Almost Eden. They were great to order from.

Sandy

Thanks all! Another p. loefgreni bloom is about to open, just as big as the first one. The first one has only now started to fold up - I've never had a passi flower that lasted so long. The coloring darkened a little as it aged, making it even prettier.
My sweet almond verbena is growing fast, making a bigger bush each day, Sandy. I planted it to the right of the front gate - can't wait 'til it blooms, nothing smells better to my nose!
I'm really enjoying these passis!
Sherry

Missshery, what is the sweet almond verbena you mentioned and where did you get it? The only verbena I can keep going and coming back is the bonariensis variety. It volunteers and the butterflies love it.

In my yard the P. caerulea would take over the whole yard if I allowed it to. I have been letting it go where possible on the hope that the GFs will return someday. I have never had a ton of them except when I had help from a friend but they were actually one of the first butterflies I saw in my garden when I first started gardening for butterflies so we do have them in the area. The caerulea doesn't seem bothered by the frosts in my area and it seems to keep right on growing even during the winter months but it does slow down.

Murray, sweet almond verbena flowers are also very attractive to butterflies. The proper name is aloysia virgata, and I ordered mine from Almost Eden in Louisiana. It appears to be much cold hardier than I thought it would be - it didn't lose all its leaves last winter.
Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Aloysia virgata at Almost Eden

You can see the interesting colors in the reproductive parts of the flower better in this picture of one that opened this morning -
{{gwi:465021}}
Sherry

That just amazes me, MissSherry! I mean "how in the heck" was something so stunning created? Kind of makes me feel very humble, and appreciative of God's artistic work!

Susan

WOW! That is a spectacular blossom! I've had a number of my 'new' Passis blossom recently, too. I've been too busy with work-related things and taking pics of the various larvae to stop and take Passi pics. I may just have to do that today! :)
Thanks for sharing.

I found my first p. mucronata bloom this morning -
{{gwi:465024}}
Sherry

Mssherry, the pic is gorgeous. I'm wondering if there is one particular passi that you're familiar with that is not as aggressive as others. I would love to grow it but have a small back yard. Having it running rampant is not an option!

All my passis run rampant, greenjewels, except p. lutea. P. lutea is native here - there's some growing naturally on my property - but the flowers are so tiny you can hardly see them. The gulf frits won't lay eggs on it unless the other passis are all eaten up, but you can use it to feed cats when you're out of others.
I'm growing lots of new ones, though, some of which are still in their containers, because they haven't grown enough roots for me to plant them out. These are p. amethystina 'Minas Gerais' and p. eichlerianna 'Mauro Peixoto', but I can't say for sure that they'll stay small until I plant them out.
Sherry

Another new passi, this one is big and called 'White Wedding' -
{{gwi:465026}}
Sherry

Oooo - that is gorgeous! Let me know if it attracts the moths at dusk and dawn, too, MissSherry. Just out of curiosity. Last year, the hummers fell in love with my P. ceurulea.

Susan

I haven't seen any moths at any of my passis at dusk or dawn, Susan. Speaking of moths, I found two tobacco hornworms on my tomatoes, so I brought them in to raise myself. That way I can control which parts of the tomato plants they eat! :)
Yet another white passi has bloomed for the first time today, this one p. incarnata 'alba' - I think this is my favorite, for, among other reasons, the wonderful incarnata smell -
{{gwi:465029}}
Sherry

Another beauty, MissSherry! You are certainly passionate about passi's, huh?

I accidentally pulled up the shoot from my A. ceurulea, and then I installed a trellis there. I think I must have damaged the roots because it has been a month and nothing is coming up there. So, off I go to get another one. The hummers loved the blooms on this one.

The 'Lavendar Lady' started coming up in April. That is the earliest I've ever seen it because usually it's June b4 it pokes it's head up. No sign of GFs yet, tho.

I love the fragrance of passi's myself! I just don't know where I'd put anything else right now, or I'd probably go hog wild over planting more of them. So, I'll enjoy yours vicariously! LOL!

Susan

I'll just keep posting pictures of mine, as the new ones start to bloom, Susan! I'm really enjoying these passis!
I've got two 'Amethyst' passis, which are supposed to be the same thing as 'Lavendar Lady' - one grew quickly and vigorously, so it's already planted, the other one has been much slower, and it's still in its pot. But even the big one hasn't bloomed yet. I'm looking forward to seeing it, as I'm looking forward to the others whose blooms I haven't seen yet.
I STILL haven't seen a gulf or variegated frit! :(
Sherry

Seems that the butterflies are slow-going this year, MissSherry, and I still believe it is because of the weird weather this spring. The few we had in the beginning have gone up north already, and I can only assume that the others are still in Texas or Mexico. But, I really don't know.

Last year by this time I had tons of QMs, BSTs, PVS, and Sulphurs. But, as I said, it gave me time to get a lot of planting done.

This weekend I'll not be doing much because I fell (yes, again!) yesterday, outside in the garden. Fell on my side and bruised my ribs pretty good. Ended up at the doc's office for xrays. My entire right upper quadrant is in great pain today, but I'll still be out in the yard!

Susan

I'm so sorry you fell, Susan - be careful where you step!
When I was hospitalized for 2 days last month, it was due to dehydration due to vomiting, which was due to the most unbelievable dizziness you can imagine! I had IVs with the regular saline solution, plus potassium (which burns going in) and all kinds of tests. I learned that my heart and blood vessels are fine, but after visiting a ENT, it seems I have vestibular neuritis or vestibular neuronitis, an inner ear thing. The latest thinking is that the chicken pox virus/varicella lies dormant, then reactivates to cause this horrible thing, much like it resurfaces to cause shingles and Bell's palsy later in life. I'm still having minor dizziness off and on. On my good days, I get as much done as I can, because I have to lie flat on my back when the dizziness is bad - I had just kept going with the dizziness when I got so sick, and I don't want that to happen. Anyway, laying in bed is VERY boring for a hyper person like me!
Today is shaping up to be a good day - YAY!
It's %@*! to get old!
Sherry

When you 1st said "dizziness", I wondered if it was inner ear. Never had that, fortunately, but my mother has. I had shingles once on my leg, but it didn't cause any problems for me (some say it itches). It just looked unsightly for what seemed like a very long time. My doc is referring me for pain management due to the problems my OA and DDD is causing. She said my neck is "trashed". She gave me steroid injections in my knees, and they are MUCH better now. It has to be really bad pain b4 I go to the doctor. I've been to so many over the last 6 years, that I put it off as long as possible.

Sandy was here this morning and brought me a start of Passiflora incarnata that I hope I can keep alive! It had started to make roots, so hopefully it will come along just fine. Also gave me some Tithonia seedlings, borage, and a butterfly bush - either Bicolor or one of the yellow flowering ones. She got one of my A. purpurescens.

I hope you're feeling better. Did they tell you to take dramamine? (helps with symptoms of inner ear)

Susan

The only "dizzy" pills they gave me were meclizine, but they just make me sleepy, don't really help that much.
The best stuff I got was in the hospital when they gave me some anti-nausea stuff in the IV - it really helped with the dizziness, too.
Another p. incarnata 'alba' has bloomed today - I really love that one! If Sandy managed to root you some p. incarnata, she's really got a green thumb - I can never root it, even when I dig up root suckers they die after I transplant them. I've successfully grown it from seed, though. I hope all those other plants grow for you! I got some more zinnias when I went to Walmart this afternoon, Yowie Zowie or something like that, a bicolor that I wanted to grow from seed, but I'd have had to order the seeds, so I made do with what Walmart had. I guess I need to go out now that it's cooled down and plant them and weed and do other yard work.
Sherry

Guess I'll have to wait and see if the P. incarnata makes it or not. The one she brought me last year that she dug up did not make it. I may have to order this one. You'd think that something that vigorous would be an easy transplant, wouldn't you?

She also brought me a Cloudless Sulphur chrysalis. I just love those sulphur chrysalis's. So unique looking.

Hope you're feeling better, Sherry!

Susan

'Got another passi flower for the first time today! It's Amethyst/Lavender Lady, which many of you have, but I didn't realize the flower was so big -
{{gwi:465032}}
I raised quite a few gulf frits on it recently, and I saw a female gulf frit laying eggs on it today, so it's shaping up as a great host plant!
Sherry

My neighbor has what I think is P. caerulea?; loaded with blossoms and fruit and ....

There's not a single Frit in sight. Anywhere! The stuff is climbing TREES, and no Frits.

Saw a Mylitta Crescent, though...

Your passis are making me VERY envious, MissSherry!

MissSherry,

I sure enjoy your postings of your passi pictures. You are making me want to get some more going here. My biggest problem would be having to grow them in pots and keep them warm during the winter months. I overwintered a Lady Margaret in my garage and it came back. It came back quite late, though. I had just about given up on it.

When I get my outside beds finished, I'm going to contact you for more info. Sounds like I need to start with that book Ladobe mentioned.

I've got more irons in the fire right now than I have energy to accomplish! But, that seems to be the way my summers go. Keeps me out of trouble. : )

Sandy

I'll be glad to help in any way I can, Sandy. My Lady Margaret never came back - I may have posted this already. I loved the flowers - they were the only red-flowering passis that the gulf frits could safely use.
If you get the two books I have, you're likely to become a passiholic after looking at the pictures, I'm not kidding!
All the second round cats have pupated but one, and I keep finding more and more gulf frit eggs on all the vines. I found a little bitty early instar cat today on a p. incarnata, so here I go again - YAY!
There's a p. incarnata 'alba' fruit ripening on the vine now. I plan on planting a lot of the seeds, but if anybody wants any, let me know. The flower that produced the fruit was blooming with other p. incarnata 'albas' only, so I think the fruit should be pure white.
Sherry