PASSIFLORA vitifolia

Very ornamental and evergeen climbing plant which comes from South America. Like all other Passiflora plants, it has a quick growth and can easily reach several metres (4-6 m) both in height and width. Strongly branched from the base, it has cylindrical stems which are herbaceous above and semi-woody below: they are accompanied by numerous and hard tendrils allowing a climbing action very efficacious. Leaves, which are similar to the grapevine's, are big, trilobate and of a bright green color: at the apex they can take on a reddish tinge due to the presence of microscopic red-brown hairs. Star-shaped flowers appear from late spring to late autumn. They are of a bright red color and can reach a diameter of 9 cm, while petals and sepals are thin, pointed and deep pink.

It needs a sunny or bright position, otherwise its blooming could be poorer or even absent. It prefers soils which are loose, rich, fertile and well drained. It tolerates drought, but in summer it benefits from periodical irrigations above all in the hottest periods. Infact these last ones improve the general aspect of the plant and its next blooming. It suffers the frost, above all if it is intense and prolonged because it could damage the upper part of the plant: so it's better to place it in wind-sheltered places. in spring, you could remove the damaged and disordered branches and shorten the longest ones in order to give this plant a thicker shape and to stimulate the next branching and blooming. It can also be grown in pots or containers which could be brought in fresh and bright sheltered places; in full ground it can be used to cover walls, fences, hurdles or to realize shaded harbours in order to give an exotic and very ornamental effect.