Passiflora incarnata - Maypop

Passiflora incarnata is the easiest and most rewarding of all passifloras. It's blooms are gorgeous and fragrant, the fruit tastes like apricot guava, the leaves make a calming tea, and butterflies love it. Maypop is native to the Southeastern United States where it grows wild. In warm, humid climates it grows like a weed, (a pushy weed) and is considered invasive. But this exotic vine also thrives in cool zones 5 or 6 where it's most welcome. The extravagant blooms are fragrant and frilly, 2"-3" across with a corona of purple and white filaments. Colors range from lilac to white, and they bloom all summer. They're followed by edible aromatic yellow fruit. Maypop is a clinging vine that needs 30'-40' of support. It will cover a fence in a season, climb over trees and shrubs with curly tendrils. Coax it where you want it by providing a string to follow. In cold climates, it dies back in winter and is easily removed. It will recover in spring. Passiflora incarnata likes full to partial s