My Passion Flower went wild last year and gave a beautiful display of flowers for the first time! It's now looking very straggly with loads of buds on which were hit by the frosts and snow. My gardening books vary in advice, but I would like to know"to prune or not to prune"
gardenqueen, I planted a cutting at my mothers some years ago and every year it gives an amazing display of flowers and even some fruit. The winter does make it look a little untidy but it gets a tidy up trim at the end of March every year and it has not taken any harm yet?
Prune! They can take a severe haircut and grow back strongly! I only have a small garden so I trim mine back to within a couple of buds of the main framework each year, but usually leave it until the worst of the frosts have passed (say April time).
Ok I will give it a good haircut then, when the frosts have passed. Thanks for the advice.
This link will give you a guide;
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Passiflora/Passiflora.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Passiflora/Passiflora.htm)
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Passiflora/Passiflora.JPG)
This legend always comes to mind when passiflora is mentioned;
Legend states that the Passion flower relates to Christ's Passion;
It is said that it was Spanish missionaries when visiting South American countries used the Passion flower to illustrate the story of the crucifixion , it goes as follows;
The three stigmas look very much like nails, and represent the three nails that held Christ to the Cross.
There are five stamens, and these were used to help fix in people's minds that there were five wounds.
The rings of slender filaments in the corona, represents the crown of thorns.
The hand-like leaves and whippy tendrils were the hands and whips of those who scourged him.
There are five petals and five sepals, these represent the apostles who were present at the time.
n.b. Peter and Judas did not attend the crucifixion.
Thank you Tee Gee for the link, Very informative.
I just use the petrol hedgecutter on mine every time it gets out of hand and I cannot get down the path. Anytime apart from when it is flowering. Only thing to watch is you do not cut through any of the main stems. You can also layer it so it gradually creeps along the hedge as it just roots where it touches the ground.