In order to be able to enjoy the passion flower for years to come, it is important to overwinter the plant properly, depending on the species and region.

Passion flowers can only overwinter outdoors under certain conditions

In milder regions of Germany, some types of passion flower (Passiflora) can also be grown outside through the winter, as we will show you below. For the other Passiflora species that are not sure hardy, there are tips for overwintering indoors.

Which passion flowers are hardy?

Since passion flowers originate in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, they are not prepared for the Central European winter. But: By choosing the right variety and with a little preparation, it is possible to overwinter passion flowers - some even outdoors.

The yellow passion flower is one of the Passiflora species that are hardy

The following passion flowers are conditionally hardy - so they can overwinter outdoors with winter protection:

  • Blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea): The blue passion flower, which is quite commonly traded in Germany, is hardy and survives mild winters with the right protection down to -9°C. Some varieties such as 'Constance Eliott' and 'Chinensis' can also tolerate temperatures down to -15 °C.
  • Passiflora Incarnate (Passiflora incarnata): Passiflora incarnata is a hardy passionflower and survives even harder winters down to - 20 °C if you protect them from the frost.
  • Yellow passion flower (Passiflora lutea): This species also withstands temperatures below - 15 °C.

For these species, the air temperature is less important than the soil temperature. Potted plants are more vulnerable to frost due to the small volume of substrate and exposure to wind and should definitely be overwintered indoors. If the species mentioned above have been planted in the bed, they can remain outside with winter protection. In cold winter temperatures, however, the above-ground parts of the plant die off. In spring, however, the plant drives out again, provided that theoutlasting organs in the soil have not been damaged.

Tip: Unlike many other plants, hibernation is not important for passionflowers to flower. With the right conditions, i.e. enough warmth and light, it could also produce flowers all year round. Due to the weather in our latitudes, the passion flower is ordered to remain dormant, so to speak.

Passion flowers over winter

Although some species can tolerate brief periods of freezing temperatures, it is still safest to overwinter passionflowers indoors. With mature, he althy plants in mild regions, such as wine-growing regions, you can also try it outside - as long as the hardy passion flower is kept in a bed and not in a pot.

Passion flowers are best overwintered in a bright spot in the house

Passion flowers overwinter outside

The passion flower species mentioned are quite hardy - but they need some preparation and protection from winter and frost. It is important to overwinter only planted and he althy passion flowers outside. Passion flowers should be planted in a sheltered place - for example near a bush, a house wall or a wall, at least behind a windbreak. To protect the roots from the cold, cover them with a 7 - 10 cm thick layer of mulch, for example with our Plantura organic pine bark. This not only protects against frost, but also against drying out of the soil in summer. In addition, unwanted wild herbs are prevented from sprouting. At very low temperatures, around -5 °C, the whole plant should be wrapped in fleece. The most important thing is protecting the root - because as long as it survives, the passion flower can sprout again in spring. Passion flowers that are overwintered outdoors should not be cut back in the fall, but only in the spring if parts of the above-ground biomass have survived the winter.

Summary of wintering passionflowers outdoors:

  • Do not overwinter in pots or tubs outside
  • Plant the passion flower in a sheltered place
  • Cover roots with mulching material
  • Protect shoots with fleece if necessary

Winter passion flowers indoors

In order to overwinter passion flowers indoors in a pot, the plant is first cut back in autumn. You can proceed generously and shorten the main shoots to 15 cm, leaving about five eyes on the shoot. With larger, branched plants and enough spacein the winter quarters the side branches can also be cut back to two or three eyes.

Then it's time to put the passion flower in its winter quarters. It should be light and cool there. Most passion flowers do very well in winter with temperatures of around 10 - 15 °C. Some also tolerate lower temperatures of up to 5 °C, such as the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). Others, like the red passion flower (Passiflora racemosa), are more warmth-loving and like it a bit warmer, up to around 18 °C.

In winter, all passion flowers are watered less - but the substrate must not dry out completely. The higher the winter temperature, the more it needs to be watered. But then more light is needed, which can be provided by a plant lamp, for example. If there is not enough light available when the temperature is warm, the overwintering of the plant costs a lot of energy. This is then missing for the spring shoot or makes the passion flower susceptible to diseases and pests. There is no fertilizer at all in winter. This only starts again at the beginning of the growing season in spring.

After the winter, the passion flower sprout again

Overwintering passionflowers indoors:

  • Pruning the passion flower in autumn
  • Bright and cool location at 10 - 15 °C, some species warmer or cooler
  • Water less
  • Do not fertilize
  • Use a plant lamp depending on the temperature: the warmer, the brighter

After winter, the passion flower will sprout again, because that is when the growing season begins. You can find out how to properly care for the passion flower in our special article.

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Trees