Passiflora, known also as the passion flowers or passion vines, is a genus of about 550 species of flowering plants, the type genus of the family Passifloraceae. Passion flowers produce regular and usually showy flowers with a distinctive corona.
The genus Passiflora contains over 500 species, so the common name passionflower can describe a number of different plant types. Some are shrubs, annuals, perennials, and even trees—some also produce edible fruits. They all share exotic flowers that remain open for only about one day. The flower has a wide, flat petal base with five or 10 petals in a flat or reflex circle. The ovary and stamens are held atop a tall, distinctive stalk that is encircled by delicate filaments. The stigmas start high above the anthers and slowly bend backward for easier pollination. Where they are hardy, passionflowers are usually trained on a trellis, fence, or other vertical structure. The flowers are extremely attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. In regions where they are not hardy, passion flower plants are often grown in pots and moved indoors to overwinter.
