Wild passion flowers often grow in the wild in USDA zones 8 through 10. In areas below 8, they can be grown as a houseplant. Although sometimes, if the conditions are perfect, they can overwinter outdoors in zones 6 and 7. They are often found in open fields, along roadside ditches, fence lines and pastures. It is a native plant of the Southeastern United States. The aromatic, 2 to 3 inch purple and white flowers appear from June through August. The seeds can be harvested from the fruit when it turns yellow-green in color. This article will help you to grow this beautiful flower for your own garden.
Prepare the Seed
Hold the seed in your fingers and lightly sand one or both sides of the seed coat with a piece of fine grit sandpaper. This helps to make the germination process easier.
Once that is done, fill a thermos or bowl with warm water. Place the seeds in the water and leave them to soak for 24 to 48 hours. The water needs to stay warm. If you put them in a thermos, the water will remain the right temperature, but if you are using a bowl, you will need to change the water when it has cooled.
The seed coat is hard and soaking them in warm water helps to soften the outside shell. If you find any of your seeds floating on top of the water, remove them. This means that they are not viable seeds and will not germinate.
The seeds can be bought from a garden supply store, or online. If you can find any passion flower fruit, harvest the seeds from them. If you decide to harvest the seeds from the fruit, skip the sanding process. Leave the pulp on the seeds, because this helps to break down the seed coat for easier germination.
Gather your 4-inch pots. You will need one pot for each seed you want to plant. Place a coffee filter on the bottom of each one. This keeps the soil in the pot each time you water. Fill the pots with potting soil. You can buy potting soil in most garden supply stores, or you can make some. An easy mix to use is combining equal amounts of compost, peat moss and perlite together.
Fill a container with water and set the pots inside. The water level should be below the rim of the pot. Leave the pots in the water until moisture is visible on the soil’s surface. Remove the pots from the water. Place them on a drainage rack to allow the excess water to drain away.
Lay one seed on top of the soil. Press it gently against the soil so the seed coat is in contact with the soil. Barely cover the seed with fine sifted soil or vermiculite.
Place a sheet of plastic over the pots to help retain humidity.
Find a Warm Place
Find a warm area to place your seed pots. If you have a heat mat, set the control between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a heat mat, the top of the refrigerator will also provide enough heat. It will take between one or two weeds for the seeds to germinate. If you try germinating the seeds in temperatures lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it can take up to 10 weeks.
Check the soil every day for moisture. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Mist the soil with water when it feels dry.
When the seeds germinate, remove the plastic. Move the pots to a bright location, but out of direct sunlight. Continue to grow them in this area until the wild passion plants have their second set of true leaves. After that, you can move the pots to a sunny location.
