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Post by orflo on Sept 23, 2009 13:12:44 GMT -5
Passiflora incarnata is more commonly known under the name 'maypops' in the US. It's one of the most versatile passifloras, with edible fruits (off course), flowers and especially the leaves. These are delicious raw, added in salads, or they can be prepared as a very nice tasting tea. Another edible option is cooking the leaves as some sort of spinach, but I didn't try that one yet. Fruits are hard to grow over here, so I can't say anything on their taste. Passifloras need a good mixture of heat and rain, and this one seems to be endemic to Southeastern North America, according to Cornucopia II. Most passifloras aren't that hard to grow during summertime (unless you have a very hot dry desert-like climate), but overwintering them can be cumbersome. These 'maypops' have roots that overwinter quite easily in a pot, placed frost-free in a dark spot.  |
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Post by ottawagardener on Sept 23, 2009 14:45:11 GMT -5
This is a plant that I'd love to grow but we are just north of the line where it would be reasonable to try though I'd love someone to contradict me. Maybe I'll try overwintering their roots along with the Globe Artichoke and Figs I intend to try one day!
Lovely flower.
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Post by plantsnobin on Sept 23, 2009 16:34:00 GMT -5
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Post by stevil on Sept 24, 2009 3:48:06 GMT -5
I thought that incarnata might just have a chance in a cold greenhouse here. I've tried twice and the plants just sit there and hardly grow all summer. I'm game to try one more time though....so, yes please to few seed later!
P. caerulea seems much happier though and grows away well in the greenhouse, but still hasn't flowered (this year it is completely swamped by Yacon, so Idon't blame it!). I have overwintered inside in a pot so far, but I wonder if I should try it out. If I do, i'd like to make a reserve plant. Are Passiflora easy to propagate?
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Post by Hristo on Sept 24, 2009 4:05:59 GMT -5
Good topic, Frank!
Years ago I was interested of this species, but it turned out that it dislikes my high pH soil and I lost interest. This year I planted it again in pots. Next year will transplant them and will see what will happen.
But the most interesting question for me - is there people which have tasted fruits of particularly good flavour? I know that the species is not uniform in terms of fruit quality. I'm under the impression that very few people in it's native areas reserch it. Is there seed bank collecting different accession?
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Post by plantsnobin on Sept 24, 2009 7:32:30 GMT -5
I used to have a tender type, don't remember which one now that I kept in the greenhouse. When it bloomed it was so stinky that I couldn't stand it and had to rip it out. Growing outside you don't notice it so much. My plant is sending out roots that shoot up everywhere, easily 10 ft from the mother plant. You can dig these up, but they don't have many roots of their own. Potted, they may look like they are going to die, but give them a little time and it will send out new leaves. I don't know if anyone is doing any breeding work with them. Since mine haven't really had time to ripen I don't know if the juice to seed ratio would imrove enough to make it worth the effort. Perhaps in an area with just a little bit longer growing season they would be worth growing.
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Post by stevil on Sept 24, 2009 7:33:21 GMT -5
Good topic, Frank! Years ago I was interested of this species, but it turned out that it dislikes my high pH soil and I lost interest. This year I planted it again in pots. Next year will transplant them and will see what will happen. That's probably my problem too! Thanks, Hristo... |
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Post by atash on Nov 12, 2009 22:14:01 GMT -5
One problem with P. incarnata is that although it ranges as far north as at least Virginia--and in brutally cold hill country at that--it ranges as far south as the Carribbean and into South America. It is essentially a tropical plant that has become rootstock-hardy in hot-summer climates.
The tops are sensitive to low temperatures. It needs some heat to really thrive. In my climate it is a weak grower.
P. caerulea is much more tolerant of a cool-temperate climate. Weedy in my part of the world (maritime-somewhat equable). P. caerulea also happens to be one of the species that most aggressively suckers. On the rare occasions it freezes back (most years it is evergreen), it comes back with a vengeance.
There are increasingly complex hybrids between these species and other hardy species, that could conceivably combine the adaptability and vigor of the Bluecrown Passionflower with the tastier fruit of other species.
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Post by peppereater on Nov 13, 2009 19:10:15 GMT -5
How funny, although I have wild vines on my property which only produced one fruit this year, it happens that I spotted several clumps of vines today and picked about 50 frit ranging from still green to overly ripe to fully dried.
Anyone interested can contact me, I'd be glad to send a selection so that you can taste them, they will range from tart to sweet to "skunky" over-ripe, and I'm sure all of the seed will be viable at this point. PM me and I'll try to ship them right away. Trade discussions are welcome, but not essential, I'm sure all will work out at some time.
BTW, they can be very delicious...being wild, each fruit has slightly different qualities, from the underripe to the overripe, they somewhat resemble Kiwi, mango, or muskmelon.
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Post by trixtrax on Dec 5, 2009 21:50:42 GMT -5
I grow this plant in my greenhouse, i am not sure what state my var is from. The plant is a medicinal edible. I eat the leaves quite frequently when available. The flowers are edible but medicinal in the narcotic/sedative (in the herbalogical sense) - in other words, they won't bugger you out, just calm after a long and hectic day. This is my third year growing the plant and unlike the previous years it fruited pretty heavily but only a few were semi-ripe. I think I will add a large granite rock near its base and see if the radiant heat changes the quality of fruits I get. Though tart still delicious. I also want to feed the plant more regularly with seaweed emulsion and worm tea, it seems to respond well to being fed.
Passiflora in general can be propagated very easily by root division, and P. incarnata is not different.
I am interested in swapping genetics with anyone with Passiflora incarnata or Passiflora caerulea for evaluation, hopeful crossings and sharing.
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Post by atash on Dec 11, 2009 22:12:50 GMT -5
Hello, Trixtrax. Where in WA are you? I'm in West Seattle. I used to live on the other side of the city, and had enormous Passionflower vines growing rampantly all over everything.
Then I moved here, where the soil is saturated with Pythium root rot, and although I think I could get one established if I tried harder, my first few attempts failed.
I want to try one of the hardier hybrid types, or maybe one of the more obscure species, because P. caerulea has dry fruits with little edible pulp.
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