Passiflora incarnata seeds grow into the maypop or wild passion flower — a vigorous climbing perennial with intricate, fringed flowers in pale pink to lavender. Described by Linnaeus, the epithet incarnata means "flesh-coloured" (from Latin), a reference to the delicate colouring of the blooms. It is the hardiest passion flower in cultivation: deeply rooted, it dies back in winter and regrows strongly from the roots each spring, tolerating frost down to around −20 °C. This makes it one of the very few Passiflora that can be grown outdoors year-round in cool-temperate gardens, well beyond the Mediterranean belt. Native to the temperate regions of central and eastern North America (and naturalised in Bermuda), it is today grown by gardeners across Europe and the temperate world, both as an ornamental climber and as a valued medicinal herb. Traditionally used by the indigenous peoples of its native range for its calming properties, it is now the subject of extensive pharmacological research confirming its anxiolytic and sedative effects. The plant also bears edible fruits, the "maypops". Family Passifloraceae. Growing conditions Position: full sun Soil: light and well-drained Climate: cool to warm temperate; also thrives in Mediterranean gardens Hardiness: very hardy, to about −20 °C; dies back to the roots in winter, with vigorous spring regrowth Habit: climbing perennial subshrub. The genus Passiflora includes some 550 species, native to the tropics and subtropics of the New World IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
