# Passion Flower (*Passiflora incarnata*) Passion Flower has fascinating flowers that look like they have many layers! They can be purple or white and are often found climbing on trellises. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 40 - **Habitat:** Tropical and subtropical areas - **Also known as:** Maypop ![Passion Flower](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424750/objects/4989.jpg) ## Appearance The Passion Flower has strikingly intricate blooms with vibrant petals often in shades of white, purple, or blue. A distinctive fringed crown of filaments sits above the petals, surrounding the central reproductive parts, making it look unlike any other flower. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Passifloraceae - **Genus:** Passiflora ## Interesting facts - Certain types of passion flowers can grow over 30 feet long, like a super climber! - Its fruit, passionfruit, provides Vitamin C and is super tasty! - Some species bloom only for one day, showing their beauty quickly! - The name 'Passion Flower' honors religious symbols, not romantic feelings! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Tendrils:** Passion Flower can climb high using special tendrils that help it grasp onto supports to reach sunlight. - **Ant Lures:** Passion Flower has special glands that produce sugary nectar, attracting ants which defend the plant from herbivores. - **Butterfly Deception:** Passion Flower can deter some butterflies from laying eggs by having spots on its leaves that mimic existing eggs. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect, Bird, Bat ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen for its colony. - **Eats:** Zebra Longwing butterfly (*Heliconius charithonia*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Sips nectar from long-tubed flowers. - **Pollinates:** [Jamaican Fruit Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jamaican-fruit-bat) (*Artibeus jamaicensis*) — Feeds on nectar and carries pollen. ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Passion Flower? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Passion Flower? 300-900 cm ### How wide does Passion Flower spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Passion Flower? 5-10 cm ### When does Passion Flower bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is Passion Flower edible? Yes ### Is Passion Flower toxic? Mild ### What is Passion Flower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Brewton Historic Commercial District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brewton-historic-commercial-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Central Shelby Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-shelby-historic-district) — North Carolina, US · Historic District - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Columbia Historic District I](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-historic-district-i) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Commerce Street Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/commerce-street-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Passion Flower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/passion-flower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Passion Flower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/passion-flower)