P alata are difficult (slow)to germinate. I have been told they can take up to 2 years. I have had them range from 2 mos to a year. I usually soak mine in o.j. in a dixie cup on a heat mat for 2 days then soak in warm water for a day. Then plant in peat pot in little greenhouse on a heat mat with a grow light on during the day, off at night. I had good success this year germinating all the passiflora seeds that I tried. I was trying to sprout banana seeds at the same time, which need the temperatures to be varied. So the heat mat was turned up and down and low and behold it worked great on the passiflora seedlings as well :). Hope this helps, GL
~SJN

I bought 6 seeds which I placed in a cup then added hot water. Let them soak there for 24 hrs before taking each one out and placing it in a small pot with Miracle Grow Soil. Gently soaked the soild. As it was summer, placed them in the shed [well ventilated and lots of natural light] but out of the direct sun. Four out of six germinated within a short space of time i.e. definitely within a month. I have planted 3 outside early fall and all started climbing the fence nicely. Still have one in a large pot in the shed.
Cath
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Is there any place selling this plant? I tried Annie's Annuals but their web site says "Not in Production".

Dogwooderitternet, an Ebay seller, usually has some. You can also check Grassy Knolls. If neither of them hs it do a Google search for Alata "Ruby Glow". You can check an online vendor's feedback on gardenwatchdog.

Actually, if you are in California, and P. alata 'Ruby Glow' is OK (technically it's Passiflora phoenicia) you might check the nurseries under both P. phoenicia and 'Ruby Glow'. They should have it somewhere. It will probably be pretty cheap ($10-$20) in a 1 gallon, maybe a lot more in a 5 gallon ($30-$50). It's a fast-growing vine, so I would go for 1 gallon if you can find it. Just call/email the nurseries with the best selection of interesting plants.

Or, many nurseries can special order from San Marcos Growers. It's not on their available list at the moment, but P. 'Purple Tiger' is. That hybrid is: Passiflora phoenicea 'Ruby Glow' x P. quadrangularis

Here is a link that might be useful: P. Phoenica (P. alata 'Ruby Glow') at San Marcos Growers

I forgot that I had this picture. This is Passiflora 'Purple Tiger', 1 gallon pots for $9.99 back in July at ProBuild Nursery in Santa Cruz. This is the same nursery that sold me P. loefgrenii and P. actinia, plants from Annie's Annuals, in 4 inch pots for $4 each. I don't have room for a monster like the 'Purple Tiger', but I was tempeted because the plants are so beautiful.

I bought mine from a Nursery in Fallbrook. They offer seeds & plants of certify P. alata and not hybrid seeds. Hybrid seeds can produce plants of any type. Rarely they will be true to the specie.

Patrice