Passion Flower Growing Guide

Plant after the last frost in partial to full sun. Passion flower should be given a deep watering immediately after planting. Passion flower plants love warm weather and may need winter protection in cooler regions. To prevent your plant from dieback, bring it indoors as temperatures drop. Plant on a trellis or along a wall to protect against wind conditions. Mulching also can protect the roots in winter in cold areas and keep the soil from eroding.

Spanish missionaries gave the flower its name, likening the structure of the flower to elements of the story of the Passion of the Christ. The 10 petals and sepals represent the 10 apostles (not including Judas and Peter) and the corona symbolizing the crown of thorns. The flower’s five anthers symbolize Jesus’ wounds; the three stigmas symbolize the nails of the cross. The tendrils represent the whips used by Jesus’ tormentors.

For maximum potency, passion flower should be harvested while the plant is in bloom, during the mid to late summer months. When gathering passion flower, only harvest the parts above the ground not the root. Cut the vine off at ground level to allow the rot system to stay in tact for future growth. Gather the larger more mature plants leaving plenty of younger smaller plants to seed the area for future harvest. For drying purposes and to preserve the green color gather passion flower in the afternoon once the morning dew has dried. After harvest, remove all foreign matter and spread in a thin layer immediately. Passion flower herb can be dried outdoors though it needs to be dried out of the sun. When possible, however, dry indoors in a dark, well ventilated place. It will be dry in three to seven days.

Place the vines carefully into a cardboard box or burlap bag for storage in a dry area until ready to sell or use. Do not store the vines in plastic or it will mold. Store the dried blooms and leaves in glass containers.