Topic: Is this a Passionflower?

[nepeta]

My friend bought this plant mailorder, she can't remember where from.
She thought she was buying a passionflower, but I have never seen one that looked liked this.
It has square stems, the leaves are smooth and oval shaped, they reminded me of Camelia leaves but paler, but it must be a climber as it has tendrils growing. No sign of flowers yet.

Anyone know what it is?

Any info gratefully received.

Thanks,
Nepeta

(sorry about size of picture this is the first time I have used photobucket, at least you can get a good look at the plant! ;D)

[Mimi]

Hi Nepeta, it doesnt look like any passion flower that I know of.  Sorry cant be of any more help.

[john_miller]

Odontonema strictum-firespike. Do whatever it takes to get this to flower- it is gorgeous, attracts hummingbirds too.

[nepeta]

Hi John,

Thank you so much for your reply; I was beginning to think I had you all stumped!!

I will pass this on to my friend and look forward to the flowers.

Thanks,

Nepeta

[Mrs Ava]

John Miller is whizzing this one right back to the top of the class.

Odontonema strictum
 
Didn't do well this year with just a few small flowers and no hummingbirds! Probably due to the cool moist summer and may have caused it to flower nearly a month late too.

[nepeta]

Hi,

It turned out that the plant my friend has is a passionflower after all. It is passiflora alata, it only produced one flower this year, red and purple with a beautiful scent. Apparently the fruits are edible, but hers dropped off before it was ripe.

Nepeta