Passiflora serrulata | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

DESCRIPTION:

Its edible, flavourful fruits, with a diameter of about 5 cm, call to mind those of P. maliformis. The flowers are similar in colour and shape both to those of P. maliformis and those of P. platyloba. They all belong to the same supersection Laurifolia of the subgenus Passiflora.

P. serrulata, which is native to Colombia and Venezuela, has whole lanceolate leaves, smaller and lighter (12 x 7 cm) than those of other similar species; it is also more delicate in appearance.

The singularly interesting pendulous flowers open from three large light green triangular bracts which, once the plant is blooming, remain above the flower itself. They are pushed back by the retroflexion of the petals and sepals that flatten against them. The dotting on the aculeated sepals and petals is mauve-red against a green or white-green background and often flows into longitudinal, occasionally crooked lines. The corona, formed by 6 series of filaments with alternating red, white and mauve bands, and curled at the apex, opens like a cup. The first series of filaments differs from the others by turning towards the corolla. The flower is thus flamboyant in colour and wavy in shape.

This passionflower is not as easy to grow as its related species are. It suffers from chlorosis and excessive humidity at the roots, therefore care and caution are needed to bring it into bloom.

The minimum tolerated winter temperature is around 8°C, although it can bear short drops to lower temperatures. It could acclimatise in milder Italian areas in a protected position and with suitable moveable winter covers.

It propagates from seed (which, however, produces slow-growing plants) and from cuttings.