Passiflora caerulea White Lightning ('Yanpas'PBR)
passion flower [White Lightning]
A vigorous semi-evergreen climber to 5m, with deeply lobed, dark green leaves and 3.5cm wide, star-shaped white passion flowers with contrasting lilac and purple central crown with a cross of greenish filaments and purple speckled style-branches, in late summer and autumn. Egg-shaped orange fruits appear after the flowers. These are edible but not particularly tasty
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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White Purple | Green | Orange | |
| Autumn | White Purple | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Passifloraceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing
- Genus
Passiflora are mostly tender tendril-climbing shrubs, with simple or palmately-lobed, generally evergreen leaves and showy flowers of distinctive structure with often colourful coronal filaments, followed by conspicuous fruits, edible in some species
- Name status
Trade
How to grow
Cultivation
Fast-growing climber thriving in moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Due to its vigorous nature, it has the potential to become a nuisance in some gardens. In cold areas, grow in a container and overwinter indoors. Shade from direct sunlight if grown in a south-facing glasshouse or conservatory to prevent leaf scorch. See passion flower cultivation for more information
Propagation
Propagate by seed, semi-hardwood cuttings or by layering in spring or autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Sub-tropical
- Wall side borders
- Edible fruit
Pruning
Pruning group 1, tidy after flowering or pruning group 11 or pruning group 12 if necessary, in early spring
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects and glasshouse whitefly
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely) and a virus
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