Passiflora alata is
tropical and will suffer if temperatures even approach frosty. The
fruit of the Winged Stem Passion Vine are edible. It is a good plan
to provide solid support for this large fast growing vine.
Passiflora alata can reach to 40 feet. Old stems will be buried by
the new. The spectacular fragrant
flowers usually hang down and can be lost
in the foliage even though they are as much as 5" across. The flowers of Passiflora alata are well presented
floating in a bowl of water. Passion vines have interesting methods
of spreading pollen. And intriguing egg
mimic appendages to fool butterflies that wish to deposit their eggs.
This is an excellent plant to host gulf
fritillary caterpillars in your butterfly
garden.
