Information on Passion Flower Seeds
By Joanne Marie
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If you have a trellis or mailbox that needs color and are looking for a dramatic, flowering vine to plant nearby, the passion flower plant (Passiflora sp.) can be the perfect choice. Passion flowers are fast growing, vining plants with dramatic, fragrant flowers noted for their fringe-like petals and purple, red or pink colors, depending on the variety. The plants can be grown from seed providing some special techniques are used to help them germinate. They do well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9.
Seed Production and Dispersal
In mid-summer, passion flower vines produce small, egg-shaped edible fruits commonly called maypops. The fruits ripen in the fall, turning a yellowish color at their peak. Maypops contains many seeds surrounded by soft pulp and each seed is about one-quarter inch long, with a hard, rough, dark brown or gray exterior. Passion flower seeds are naturally dispersed by birds and small mammals, which consume the fruits and release the seeds with their droppings. When seeds contact the soil, rain helps move them into the soil, where they can eventually germinate if conditions are favorable.
Choosing Seeds
To start a passion flower vine from seed, the best course is to begin with fresh seeds, since seeds stored for long periods can take up to twelve months to germinate and the rate of success may be quite low. When purchasing seeds, ensure that the package is labeled for use during the current year. If you have access to fresh passion flower fruit, separate the seeds from the flesh, spread them on paper and allow them to dry before preparing them for planting.
Preparing Seeds
Because passion flower seeds have a hard outer coat, they are slow to absorb water and break dormancy, making them exceptionally slow to germinate unless pre-treated with a method called scarification to accelerate the process. Scarification physically alters or breaks the seed coat, making it easier for water to move into the seed. For passion flowers, the easiest method is to lightly rub the seeds on fine sandpaper.You can ensure that all seed surfaces are scarified by placing seeds between two sandpaper sheets and moving the sheets against each other. After scarifying, the seeds should be soaked in tepid water for about 24 hours, allowing them to swell slightly.
Once seeds have been soaked, they are ready for planting in sterile potting soil or a soilless mixture formulated for seed-starting. They should be planted about one-tenth to one-fifth of an inch deep and covered lightly with soil or mix, then placed in a warm location. Temperature is critical for germinating passion flower seeds and should be about 68 degrees Fahrenheit for sixteen hours each day, followed by an 8-hour period at 86 F, mimicking the plant's natural tropical environment. Using this technique, fresh seeds should germinate in a few weeks, although it might take up to twelve weeks for older seed.
Sunset: Passiflora
UK National Collection of Passiflora: Passion Flower -- Cultivation and Propagation
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: Passion Flower Vines
Missouri Botanical Garden: Passiflora Incarnata
Joanne Marie began writing professionally in 1981. Her work has appeared in health, medical and scientific publications such as Endocrinology and Journal of Cell Biology. She has also published in hobbyist offerings such as The Hobstarand The Bagpiper. Marie is a certified master gardener and has a Ph.D. in anatomy from Temple University School of Medicine.
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