Passiflora Species, Passion Flower, Passion Vine

My favourite of the passionflowers, the impossibly rare Passiflora parritae is one o fthe most beautiful vines in the world.
...Read More /> Although it is reputed to be difficult to grow, I have done well with it in San Francisco and even the very warm San Diego where it is planted in a north-facing position in deference to its love of cooler and more temperate environments. It likes a lot of humidity in the air so I have it by the water source. It is thriving.

Parritae is very rare because it is almost extict. The story goes that a seed pod was found at some point and the plants that came out of that were eventually lost except for the very last one which ws sent to Strybing Arborettum in San Francisco which where this insanely beautiful plant is thriving to this day. In fact, the Strybing plant is the mother plants for any other plants that you may hear of because parritae, unfortunately, is not self-fruitful thus far (see the image of the fruit - I would be willing to be that is a cross pollination. If it isn't though I sure do want a seedling!). The site of the mother plant was reinvestigated and it had been destroyed to put roads through.

Parritae is - in my opinion - harder to root from cuttings than even its close relative the stunning and highly sought Passiflora antioquiensis. I tried trays and trays of these with no luck. However, I am able to produce a small number of these per year using other means even in the warm San Diego location where most days are over 70F. In fact, the mother plant is thriving (in full shade - I think direct sun would kick its passiflora butt)

If you can get ahold of one of these you will be rewarded with - in my opinion - the most beautiful flowers in passiflora (with the exception of maybe P. cirrhiflora but no one can lay hands on that one!). Budding parritae flowers are equally as beautiful as the blooming flowers and hang down. They are amazing to see in person.