Hardy Blue Passion Flower
At the rental house before I bought my current home there was an alien-like passion flower vine that serpentined around the iron fence up front steps. It was obviously old and established because it set of a profusion of flowers each year and produced many egg-shaped little orange fruits. I never tasted one for fear of the unknown but I did enjoy my one season with the vine tremendously (I’ve since learned that the fruits are edible indeed).
When I moved into my new house the following year, I went straight out and bought a passion flower along with an Italian Prune Plum tree which I also adored during my time at the rental. To my dismay, it died that winter. I bought another the following year and it died over winter too. I certainly wasn’t about to try a third time (at $18 a pop) so I grieved and moved on. Until one day a interesting plant collector traded me a Hardy Blue Passion Flower that was already more than 10 feet long! I planted and trellised it last year and just as the plant collector assured me, it WAS hardy enough to survive!
I now have an amazing twining vine above the apple espalier arbour and ducking under the variegated butterfly bush. I’m so happy to once again enjoy the most unique and stunning blooms. All hail the Hardy Blue Passion Flower – I hope to someday try your fruit.
Tags: Flora Friday, passion flower
August 06 2010 06:28 pm | Flowers and Photography
Aaerelon (Aerelon Ablenas) on 07 Aug 2010 at 5:52 am #
RT @Garden_Therapy: Hardy Blue Passion Flower http://bit.ly/9bm76I
melanie watts on 07 Aug 2010 at 7:40 am #
A lovely story Stevie. It has such a pretty flower. Does it have a fragrance?
Stevie on 07 Aug 2010 at 8:05 am #
Thanks, Melanie. And yes, the flowers are fragrant.
luna miranda on 08 Aug 2010 at 9:42 am #
i posted this flower last week, and learned it’s name.:p i remember my grandfather had some passion fruit but i didn’t see its flowers.
Grace OLsson on 08 Aug 2010 at 9:53 am #
I like so much the meme Flowers from today cause I read many and many stories….and I learn more, every week with different people.
The first time I found this flower was at a client house…I did not get to take her photos before to pick some of it…and love it.
Great shot, dear
Have a nice week
The dog passport? I never have heard about it untilthe afternoon in Skövde….
Eileen on 08 Aug 2010 at 10:03 am #
Wonderful post, Stevie! Your hardy Blue Passion Flower is gorgeous.
Lui on 08 Aug 2010 at 10:40 am #
Well, it looks so full of passion, lol ;-) I love the Croscomia too in your previous post.
April on 08 Aug 2010 at 12:37 pm #
This is a very lovely flower. I used to live in the lower mainland many years ago, and I still miss the Italian Prune Plum trees.
Laura on 08 Aug 2010 at 1:39 pm #
All hail indeed! I love this flower! So cool! It almost doesn’t look real. It looks like you made a great deal, what was your trade?
guild-rez on 08 Aug 2010 at 1:45 pm #
Interesting post.
I consider the Passionfruit – Passiflora plant as a tropical plant. Here in Toronto the plant is brought inside the house placed in a sunny window until next spring.
Great picture!!
Priscilla Prince on 08 Aug 2010 at 7:32 pm #
Very interesting flower and it looks beautiful! I wonder how the fruit taste. Awesome photograph. Have a great weekend Stevie!
Stevie on 08 Aug 2010 at 8:13 pm #
Laura, I traded a most interesting plant, solanum mammosum, commonly known as nipple fruit!
Stevie on 08 Aug 2010 at 8:13 pm #
Oh and thanks for all the great comments lovely peeps.
Omni Gardening Clinic: Help Identify This Flower - FlyerTalk Forums on 11 Oct 2010 at 4:51 pm #
[...] Passion flower vines grow up here in Vancouver, so they are pretty hardy. I've got one like this: http://gardentherapy.ca/ff-passion-flower/ [...]