Passiflora sublanceolata | The Italian Collection of Maurizio Vecchia

DESCRIPTION:

This light, lively Mexican passionflower is an obvious member of the section Dysosmia of subgenus Passiflora with its characteristic fragrance that is released by merely touching its leaves. Other characteristics, such as the leaves and stems covered in sparse hairs, and the pinnate bracts, similar to those of P. foetida and P. urbaniana, further confirm this.

The leaves of P. sublanceolata, currently widespread in Europe, are whole and narrow with an acute apex, almost resembling equilateral triangles with their very small base. Other varieties, in contrast, have two barely visible lateral lobes, placed at the base of the leaf.

Its flowers are pink or deep pink. The diameter of the flowers is about 7 cm. They have sepals with terminal quills, tomentose on their lower surface, pinkish on the upper one. The petals are bright pink. The corolla tends to retroflex.

The corona has a few series of short erect filaments ranging in colour from deep blue to dark purple.

The spherical fruit, about 3 cm in diameter, is densely hairy.

P. sublanceolata is easy to cultivate and, propagated from seed, grows with surprising speed, reaching over one metre in length in a few months. Flowering is precocious, so much so that if it is sown in the early months of the year, it may begin flowering in autumn.

Resistance to cold is limited and it requires minimum temperatures around 12°C. It is therefore suited to growing in a pot or greenhouse. During the period of vegetative growth, it must be supported with regular watering and liquid fertilisation applied once a week.

Reproduction by seed is simple and rapid, but, if grown plants are available, the cutting method is also possible.