Passion flower Passiflora caerulea blue 5 m² - Flower seeds

This climber's seeds need no prior treatment but it is advisable. Encourage germination but soaking the seeds overnight in milk or orange juice. The outermost skin of the seed needs removing - this is called scarifying and soaking in milk or orange juice stimulates the process. Sowing Sow under glass: march - April
Sow in the garden: from May.

Easiest early method is to use an indoor propagator. Fill the little pots with fine potting compost and plant 1 seed per pot. Cover with soil and sprinkle with water. Heat (22-27 degrees Centigrade) will do the rest. Prick new shoots out into larger pots and keep them cool, a cold frame is good.

Delay growth somewhat by standing them in a cool light spot (if it is still to cold to put them outdoors). Plant outdoors from mid-May against a wall or with a climbing frame if you do not want to keep over the winter, OR in an attractive planter for on the patio if you would like to keep it until the following year. Ensure a well planted frame in the pot, then it can stand where you want it to.

It is crucial not to plant outdoors too soon. The seedlings are very susceptible to frost so use some protective fleece if frost is forecast.

The seed will germinate in 30 days till 1 year. These seeds have an exceptionally random germination period so it could take a while.

Flowers appear in July - September

Water extra in periods of drought and keep the bed weed-free, your Passion Flower will then thrive. It is a very undemanding plant but does lot like to stand in too moist a spot. It will even grow well in poor soil. The Passion Flower will show its appreciation of some fertiliser with a high ratio of potassium (K) to nitrogen (N). To encourage flowering in potted plants, we advise feeding weekly during the summer. It will flower from July right through until the autumn and can grow up to 3 metres in height and breadth.

Allow overblown flowers to remain on the wood if you want to see the fruit. The long and bendy Passion Flower 'van Crato' shoots like to grow up some sort of support - canes or a climbing frame for instance (do ensure that any support is firmly planted too). Tie up or help to wind it around supports to start with - after a while the Passieflora cincinnata will attach itself. Storing over the winter Passiflora cincinnata is not hardy but if in a planter it can store well over the winter - just bring indoors before the first frosts and keep it somewhere frost-free and light at around 10-15 degrees Centigrade. Now is also the time to cut hard back. Keep the potting compost slightly damp. Feed and water again only from March and bring into a warmer position from April onwards. Pot up and water yet more and your passion flower 'van Crato' can go outdoors to grace your patio or decking again from mid-May. Beware of late frosts.

The striking purple flowers of the Passiflora cincinnata appear in abundance all along the twigs. The flower's shape reminds some people of the suffering of Christ - the ring of long stamens is said to represent the crown of thorns.

The name comes from the Latin 'passio' meaning 'suffering' and 'flora' (flower).

You can expect to see fruit on your Passiflora cincinnata in the summer and the fairly large pale green fruit is edible. You will however need a 2nd plant if you want it to be fertilised.