Maypop Passion Vine

Passion Vine on Trellis

Photo:  Debbie Roland

By Debbie Roland, Master Gardener

You may have walked along fences or trellises and notice a green climbing vine with exotic lavender and white blossoms that look more tropical than Texan.  That vine is the Maypop Passion Vine (Passiflora incarnata) and it deserves a spot in your yard.  It is native from Florida to the Hill Country and once established grows well in West Texas.

Maypop’s underground rhizomes insulate it from our winter freezes and its roots appreciate our well-drained soil.  It will tolerate caliche, yet drainage is non-negotiable.  Add compost or use a raised bed if puddles linger.  Full sun encourages dense foliage and heavy blooming, but a bit of afternoon shade can reduce water stress.

To get the plant established regular moisture is required.  Once rooted a deep soaking every two weeks or so will suffice.  Be on the lookout for shoots and keep them pulled since this plant spreads enthusiastically when happy.  This plant can grow 10-15’ stems in a single season.  Provide a cattle panel or arbor for the tendrils to grab.  Cut last year’s brown stems to the soil line in late February.  Fresh growth will appear in the first warm days of spring.

Each bloom last only a day or two but buds open in succession from June through the first frost.  The blooms attract native bees, while the faint fragrance draws nighttime moths.  Gulf fritillary and zebra longwing butterflies lay eggs on the foliage.  Leave the caterpillars since they rarely defoliate the plant.

I have a large trellis (photo below) where my passion vine grows.  Even though they have been prolific for five years, I have never had the green fruit appear.  Rounded green fruit should follow the flowers and ripen to yellow-purple blush that signals peak sweetness.  Crack one open and you will understand the name since it “pops” like a balloon.  You can scoop the mango-like pulp into lemonade or simmer with sugar for a delicious, flavored syrup.  Fallen fruit will sprout so harvest quickly.

Deer won’t eat maypop but aphids will occasionally colonize the tender tips.  If this happens just give a hard spray with the garden hose.  If you get yellow leaves it indicates drought stress, and a hardy watering should take care of it.

This plant offers West Texas gardeners an easy way to spruce up fences and trellises.  Happy Gardening!

If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700.   Additional information, and our blog for access to past articles, is available at westtexasgardening.org.  Click on “Resources.”