Passion Flowers Do Not Like My Garden

[MelaniesLaugh]

I love Passion Flowers. I think there’s nothing prettier than a fence covered in the flowers. However, I can’t grow them.

Last year I planted my first one and it died. I blamed DH because he allowed it to dry out when I was away for two nights and it was really hot (of course!). But I didn’t want to give up so I planted another this year.

It hasn’t grown at all, it’s been nibbled by leaf-cutter bees and the leaves are a disheartening yellow colour. I’ve fed it, with long lasting stuff plus tomato feed when I fed my roses, watered it, but it is just one measly stem growing up and then going into a sort of sad looking T

It is in full sun. Soil is clay.

Do I have to admit defeat and not have a gorgeous Passion Flower and instead have another Jasmine as that does grow in my garden!

I tried for three years to grow them. At least 5 plants. I killed them all. I now grow morning glory in that spot.

Frustratingly I've just spotted that my neighbour is growing one - but not our shared fence, so no shared joy!

I grow mine in a pot as it didn't like my soil

I find they don't thrive if I plant them into the soil when they are small.
I keep them in a decent sized pot for a year or two to really establish a good root system and then when they go in the soil they romp away.

Yes mine was gorgeous then died, so gutting

They are gorgeous but tender. I'm thinking about trying to grow a couple in our extension to see if we get fruit.

I've just killed a hydrangea - it got as much water as any other plant in my garden. They've thrived but it's gone brown.

Passionflower is taking over the bottom of my garden and I loathe it. The flowers smell of rotting meat. It is full of wasps and hornets gorging themselves on the orange fruits. It is billed as non destructive but is burrowing into the stones of the wall. In the autumn, I am killing it all….

I don’t water it or feed it. I think it likes dry sandy soil and lots of sun.

Is it in the sun? Hydrangeas generally prefer shade and frazzle if it's too hot.

Mine's gone absolutely bonkers, to the point that I am seriously wondering if I will regret planting it! @SummerFeverVenice I wish I hadn't read your post 😳😞

Meanwhile the climbing roses, honeysuckle, clematis...??!? I'm waiting....

I liked it too when it was small and pretty now it is a monster that I will need to machete off.

I think I will swap to a climbing rose and some evergreen jasmine.

I only planted it a month ago and it has grown 3 metres 😨😨😨

They don't like my garden either OP.

Mine was planted 2yrs ago. It’s like Jumanji out there.

I’ve grown some from seed, planted last year - leaves look ok but no signs of flowers at all. Maybe they take longer than that to establish?

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

@SummerFeverVenice I might just go out and have a little snip. Before I need a flamethrower 😨

They like to be pot bound.
I have 2 that are crazy this year, not much flowering but so much fruit!!

I’m in the northwest of England, chances are they won’t survive the winter.

Hmm this might explain why I've failed so far. The neighbour's garden is mostly in pots, I gave it a larger planter... Maybe I'll try again!

North of Newcastle and we've lost the shed to passion 🌸

Well that sounds like a boast!

I have passionflowers that are almost taking over my house. they are in the shade in an area with very little sun and in a very shallow sandy piece of ground. they have stems as thick as tarzan’s vines! so I would advocate a less sunny spot!

I am now becoming slightly terrified of mine 😬

Mine is in a pot along with other pots (clematis, honeysuckle) all lined along the ugly garage wall. I put a trellis up and they are all doing very well. That wall only gets an hour of sun early in the morning, but they are running away. I don't know how or why but sometimes when we least expect it, things just work. I water them irregularly but I throw some long lasting feed pellets early Summer.

Other things just will not work for me. But I just start again with something else and learn that it won't work THERE! I'm not a gardener as such, I just throw the stuff down and hope for the best. Hits and misses.

Yes that's it exactly, they are like triffids, trying to come into the house!

Both this and the thread title sound like the titles of tongue in cheek gardening porn novels. 😀

I am tempted to try growing one for the potential for 'fnar fnar' jokes alone.