La Passiflora Caerulea It is commonly known as passiflora, blue passionflower, blue passion fruit or passion flower. We always find it on the lists of best perennial climbing plants, and stands out for its spectacular flowers, which are as large as they are beautiful.
Furthermore, if you like natural remedies, you surely already know that this plant can be a great ally for your health, since it promotes rest. Do you want to get to know her a little better? Let's discover its secrets!
Distinctive features of Passiflora Caerulea
This climbing plant has become one of the most desired when carrying out gardening projects. Although it is native to tropical regions, the truth is that adapts very well to cold climates, making it a good option for gardens located in places where winters are harsh. In fact, it is often curious to find such a tropical-looking flower in regions where cold weather is common for several months of the year.
The characteristics of the passiflora caerulea or passion flower are the following:
- Length. As we have pointed out before, we are dealing with a climbing plant that has no difficulty when it comes to adhering to different surfaces. What's more, if it has the right support, its growth will be much faster and it could reach two meters in about three years.
- Varieties. This variety is known as the passion flower, because given its complexity it is considered a symbol of the passion of Christ. Although its flowers normally have colors between blue and violet, there are varieties that are completely white and others that have a pink base, although they are less common.
- Leaves. It has dark green leaves with three lobes. In temperate zones Passiflora Caerulea is evergreen, but in colder regions it is a deciduous variety. It is precisely this ability to manage the presence of leaves on its stems that allows it to adapt to very different climates.
- Flowering. The flower is the most striking thing about this plant, and can measure up to 10 cm in diameter and with a complex structure in which we find white or cream-colored petals on the outermost part, a blue or purple crown, and a center of filamentous structures. . As with the leaves, in warm climates flowering continues throughout the year, while in colder regions it is limited to mid-summer and until early autumn.
- Fruits. Some varieties of passiflora produce very popular fruits such as passion fruit or Chinese pomegranate. The passion flower produces a round fruit about five centimeters in diameter, which turns from green to yellow when ripe. Although it is edible, its sweet-sour flavor is not as popular as other passionflower fruits.
Uses of Passiflora Caerulea as a medicinal plant
This plant has been used for millennia to facilitate rest, since it has slightly sedative properties. So much so, that it is one of the most used species in infusions and supplements used to help you fall asleep.
Preparations based on this plant induce relaxation and improve sleep qualityThey can even help reduce stress and anxiety levels.
Its usefulness has also been studied when relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes or irritability, and its ability to reduce blood pressure, and even as a natural relaxant. In some cases, a mild antidepressant effect is attributed to it.
However, this natural remedy, by itself, does not solve health problems, so it is always advisable to consult with a specialist and take passionflower infusions only as a complement to the prescribed treatment.
Passion flower care
Would you like to have this climbing plant at home to enjoy its beauty every day? Then pay attention to the essential care you need.
Lighting conditions
Passiflora caerulea needs large amounts of natural light to grow strong and healthy. The ideal location for it is one that is full sun or, failing that, that it receives many hours of light each day.
Don't be afraid to expose it to the sun if you are in an area where it is very hot in summer, remember that we are talking about a plant of tropical origin.
Location of Passiflora Caerulea
One of the characteristics of this plant is that it is a climber and, therefore, requires a surface on which it can grow. If you put tutors on it, it will hold on to these through its tendrils.
If you plant it in the garden, the fence can act as a support for it. If it gets a lot of sun, it won't take long to cover much of it. You can also plant it next to a pergola, and this way you will obtain a natural vegetal roof.
Soil for this plant
One of the great advantages of growing passion flower is that it is not demanding on soil conditions, it can adapt well to even the poorest soils.
What is recommended is that the growing medium contains some clay, because it helps retain moisture. You can add a little expanded clay to the substrate and your plant will have what it needs to grow.
Watering the passion flower
This plant needs humidity, but you should not exceed it, because waterlogging of the roots can cause its death.
The frequency of irrigation will depend on the time of year and even the area in which you live. Make sure the substrate is always slightly moist and water before it dries completely. In winter, when the plant is dormant, you can space out watering a little more.
Pruning this climber
Although it is not necessary to prune it, you can prune it to shape it and keep it under control, since it is a fast growing plant. If you see that some stems have an aged appearance, prune them a little more thoroughly and they will sprout again.
The Passiflora Caerulea is a climbing plant capable of giving an exotic touch to your garden. In addition, you can easily reproduce it through cuttings and seeds. Do you dare to have it at home?