We wrote recently that there are eight plants that thrive in a sunroom. One is the Passion Flower which thrives in a sunroom.
- Hibiscus
- Orchids
- Passion Flower – This tropical species doesn’t survive the winter in most American gardens, but they do just fine in a sunroom as long as they’re potted in oversized pots.
- Boston Ferns
- Spider Plants – one of the easiest plants to grow indoors.
- Begonias
- African Violets
- Peace Lily
The beauty of having flowering plants in a sunroom is the color matched with tropical fabrics on wicker furniture, the smell, and the satisfaction of bringing forth beautiful flowers during the cold, snowy winter months.
I was fascinated by the history of the Passion flower, an evergreen climber. Discovered in Peru by Christian missionaries in the XVIth century. They used the Passion Flower to illustrate their religion.
“Usually the flower has five petals and five sepals. The silver on the petals reminded them of the bag of silver Judas received.” The name of the flower symbolized the passion or suffering of Christ.
The plant is known for another kind of passion. It has been used as an aphrodisiac. There are many medicinal uses for the plant including using the leaves in a tea for sedative and sleep-inducing effects. There are many who believe the leaves can be used to calm epileptic seizures. In Vietnam, the leaves are used to calm itching and rashes.
Sixty of the 400 species of Passion flower produces a fruit that is edible and tastes slightly acid and spicy. You can find Passion Fruit in many grocery stores.
RHS tells us that “Passion flower likes moderately fertile, well-drained but reliably moist soils. It will thrive in any soil type and is not fussy about acidity or alkalinity.”
“Full sun or dappled shade is best, with shelter from cold, drying winds. A south, south-west or west-facing wall is ideal.”
“If growing passion flower in a south-facing sunroom or conservatory, shade from direct sunlight may be needed to prevent the leaves from scorching.”
“Passion flower tends to flower particularly well when roots are restricted, such as in a container or path side border.”
You can grow Passion flower from cuttings or from the ovoid fruit. There are specific ways to gather the seeds from the fruit. Click on this link for instructions.
Considerations:
When it comes to Passiflora species, it’s best to use caution around your dog, keeping the dog away from the plants, especially if your dog has a history of snacking on foliage.
Eating the fruit could result in gastrointestinal upset, vomiting or diarrhea for you or your dog, so monitor your dog outside in your garden and in the sunroom.
There are few plants as stunning as the Passion flower. I can imagine them giving color to a sunroom and inspiring endless conversation.