First time posting

21 years ago

Hello Passion Flower lovers,

I'm in Sunset zone 11; US around 8-hi desert of SO. Calif.

Pls forgive the length of this 1st post. Krstofer this 1st part is addressed to you unless anyone else has encountered this name. Addressing you because you mentioned it in a post earlier this year and also on your website. Passiflora Whirlygig. Did you ever positively id this one? I picked up 3 on the 1/2 dead table at Lowes, like you, couldn't find a picture. I'm thinking either Incarnata or Incense? Growing and blooming well now.

Ok-here it goes. I currently have 21 passion flowers. Using their common names. I know for sure that I have (3) Blue Crowns, 1 Lady Margaret, 1 Belotii, 1 Allspice, 1 Victoria. The rest are names on the nursery tags (you all know how that one goes). 3 Whirlygig, 1 Frederick, 1 Nancy Garrison, 1 Coral Glow, 1 Constance Elliot (i think), 2 Vitifolia, 1 Giant Granadilla, 1 Ruby Glow, 1 Scarlet Flame, 1 Lavendar Lady/Amethyst (3 lobed leaves-still rare Myles?), last one was a no name. Leaves are maybe 1-1-1/2" wide 5 lobed, came w/3 fruit and a caterpillar, is getting ready to bloom, so I'll know what the flower looks like then.

Current bloomers are blue crown, scarlet flame, and lady margaret.

Question - I have noticed on other posts people totally planting pot and all. Is this so they won't send up runners so easily and/or to force the roots down?.

I have a thought about mine in the winter time. If I plant pot and all what are the chances that the pot in addition to mulch will help to insulate the roots? The greenery will be lost for sure.

Also am I too late in the year to plant anyone in the ground? I have several in 5 gallon pots doing pretty well. I know it's only July almost August, so maybe 3-4 months before it gets cold.

It can get quite cold in the winter - last year 15-25 F at night for about a week, plus had a light dusting of snow late December, in any event freezing or below most of the winter. Right now in summer 100-110 F.

The one I am most concerned about would probably have to be the Giant Granadilla-that one might have to bring inside for the winter and cross my fingers. I'm also concerned about it now, everything says it likes it humid - I'm in the desert :) and its' cold hardiness may only be 50F. I probably should not have gotten it, but I couldn't resist and like to try and push the zone.

1 last thing-anyone had success using the bananas and/or peels?

I think that's it for now folks. Thanks for your patience and hopeful follow-ups.

Debbie

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Comments (2)

Krstofer
21 years ago
I had my 'whirlygig' in the back here for a while.. It almost died, but I rescued it & it's doing well out by the garage now. NO flowers yet tho. Still haven't any idea what the heck it is-

I'm renting so I have all my plants in pots.. When I move I can just scoop 'em all up & go. Lots of them have rooted through the bottom of the pot & into the ground. I found that with some caeruleas last year.. Went to move the pot & it wouldn't budge. Had to get a big knife & cut it loose, now there's caerulea coming up where the pots were. Really annoys my neighbor who claims it's invasive, but he's a jackass anyway. How long does it take to bend over and pull a sprout? Too long for him.
Anyway... You could just leave the pots right on the ground & let them root. Or plant the whole thing- But I'd take them out of the pot when you do that.. NO reason to bury the whole pot that I can think of. If your worried about the cold there's some 'liteweight' pots made of the same type of stuff they use to make R-Max insulation. (closed cell foam) I've seen them at OSH & Rite-Aid, but I'm not sure they're at Lowes or the big places. They'll help keep those root balls warm alot better than a plastic pot I think.

I have a giant grenadilla in a big pot on rollers- Actually they're shopping cart wheels from the 'shopping cart graveyard' behind most grocerey stores. That way I can wheel it into the house in the winter & hang some circline flourescents over it. It's doin' just fine. I have to bring in about 1/4 of mine as it gets too cold for them during the winter. There's lotsa light in here over the cold months...

Check your giant grenadilla- If it only has 2 'bumps' on each leaf stem then it's probably "ruby glow" or somesuch & it can survive low 40's or so.. But if it has 4 or 6 like this:
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Then it's the true quadrangularis and will die if exposed to anything even close to 50.

Have fun-
singhin
Original Author
21 years ago
Krstofer, thanks for responding. If I can get a decent picture of the "Whirlygig" I'll try to email it to you. Beautiful purple frilly flower that smells great.

I'll check my "granadilla" for those bumps. I supposedly also have Ruby Glow so I can compare the 2. I'm also concerned about my lack of humidity for this guy, after all I'm in the desert. Considering in the winter my highs are only in the 40's/50's he's definitely going to come inside and give it a try. One more thing if it is indeed the "giant", can he handle my full sun without frying? Right now I've got it in morning to mid afternoon sun, but I need to move it.

If I plant the others into the ground this late, enough time for establishment before it gets cold? The only others I would be most concerned about might be the reds, vitifolia and scarlet flame.

Thanks again,
Debbie
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