Passion flowers (Passiflora) are vigorous, evergreen climbers that thrive in sunny, sheltered positions. The exotic flowers come in a variety of colours, but white and purple are most common in the UK. Here’s how to prune your passion flower for a healthy display of brightly coloured blooms, year after year.
This fast-growing variety is ideal in a conservatory or orangery
Image: Passiflora edulis 'Frederick' from Thompson & Morgan
Passion flowers don’t like to be pruned too hard, too often, as it weakens the plant. Give your plants a light prune at the end of the summer once they’ve finished flowering or, if they require some renovation, a harder prune during early spring is the way to go. Flowers form on new growth, so it’s the old growth you need to focus on removing. If you plan to prune during the spring, bear in mind that you probably won’t get as many flowers that summer.
As your plant grows, you’ll get the best results by training it against a wall, fence, trellis or obelisk. Passion flowers use tendrils to climb and so are self-clinging. To train your plant in the direction you want it to grow, simply tie in the loose stems to secure them.
Train your passion flower into a neat fan and trim back to its framework each year
Image: Passiflora caerulea from Thompson & Morgan
If you've enjoyed this article, find plenty more resources over on our climbing plants hub page to help you add vertical interest to your garden.
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