GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - HELP- Are Passion Flowers Evergreen ???

09-01-2006, 12:28 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

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I wonder if any of the subscribers are able to help?

I have been looking for a vigorous growing evergreen climber to screen
a wall -- Read on :-

I have a Honeysuckle, Climates and Passion Fruit plants on a southwest
facing wall. We haven't had any real heavy frost but with what we
have had the Honeysuckle and Climates have withered away, as expected,
but the Passion Flower has stayed green and is vibrant and showing new
growth.

Are Passion Flowers evergreen???

No, deciduous. But in a mild winter and sheltered spot, the leaves on
P caerulea sometimes stay on till spring. However, the stems the leaves
grow on are less hardy than honeysuckle and clematis. In a cold winter
or exposed place, the passionflower will drop its leaves. In a very cold
winter, all the stems will be killed right back to below ground level .
If the roots are sufficiently insulated from cold penetration, they may
send up new stems the next summer..but not always in the same place as
before. Mine had its roots under a big stone slab.

Janet