Passionflower (Passiflora alata)

Alata passionflower

Image - Flickr / codiferous

La Alata passionflower It is an evergreen climbing plant, it belongs to the Passifloraceae family. Its characteristic name derives from the Latin sounds "passio" which means passion and "flos" which means flower, that is, flower of the Passion. It is so called because it contains elements similar to the instruments seen in the passion of Christ, such as the crown of thorns (the threads), the column (the style) and the three nails (the stigmata).

Origin and habitat

Alata passionflower

Image - Wikimedia / CT Johansson

La Alata passionflower is a plant native to Brazil, where it can be seen wild in the Pará region, the Midwest and the Bay to the Rio Grande. There are those who claim that it is originally from Peru.

Features Alata passionflower

It is a fast and continuous growing climbing plant with a shallow root system. This beautiful species displays its impressive fragrant flowers from late summer to late fall., bowl-like in appearance, intense red tepals and a ring of filaments with purple and whitish lines.

Its delicious fruit is for human consumption, yellow to orange in color, it can reach 12 cm in length. The foliage consists of large leaves, with closed edges, lobed and ovate, greenish in color and its appearance remains striking throughout the year. The fragrant granadilla, which is also known, is cultivated in the Federative Republic of Brazil, where both its flowers and its fruits are highly appreciated by the population.

Cultivation and care

This plant blooms mainly in late summer, grows in full sun or under partial shade. It is of sandy, humid and well-drained soils. Regarding irrigation, the plant requires abundant water when the fruits approach maturity. Otherwise, dry soil can cause fruits to wilt and drop prematurely. In winter the watering must be reduced properly.

Keep in mind that this species does not require specific care. It is fast growing and can exceed 6 meters long. It is not recommended to clean the plant too much, since the branches that notice something soft and bent are the most likely to flower.

It is usually propagated from the seeds of its fruit. These germinate around 20 days, after being extracted from the fruit. Now stored seeds have less chance of germinating. For best results, you should plant the seeds between 2 and 3 cm deep, if it is beds. It can also be propagated by layers or wood cuttings. Before planting the seedlings, you need to make sure they are well rooted. Grafting is a good technique to reproduce hybrids and reduce the risks and attack of nematodes.

Pruning the plant is important to keep the vines within the required limit, which makes harvesting easier and improves the productivity of the plant. In warm winter climates, you should prune immediately after harvest; whereas in regions with cold winters, you should prune in early spring.

Before storing you should gently wash and dry the fruit and put them in bags. These tend to be sweeter, the more wrinkled they are. The fruit and the juice extracted from it are properly frozen. The Passion fruit bouquet combines great with citrus and other flavors.

Uses

Its ornamental value is important, which makes it a perfect option to decorate trellises, walls or fences. Excellent for decorating and beautifying urban and private gardens, where you can see the presence of butterflies that are attracted by the exquisite aroma of the flowers. Its commercial cultivation has spread, thanks to the high prices of its fruit.

Diseases and pests

In the tropical region, la Alata passionflower is frequently attacked by diseases and pests. This species is prone to being approached by nematodes. There are other species, such as the yellow passion that is more resistant to these critters. Nematodes are responsible for the short duration of many of these species.

brightly colored flower called Passiflora alata


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