Passionflower

Plant the passionflower in a sheltered spot, best against a south-facing or house wall that buffers frosty nights, and provide well-drained soil that does not become waterlogged in winter. Cut the shoots back in autumn and cover the root zone generously with bark mulch, dry leaves or fir brushwood; in severe frost, additionally wrap the remaining shoots in winter fleece. Remove mulch and fleece in spring after the last frosts. The plant sprouts anew from the rootstock, and in the first years consistent winter protection is especially important. Bring container plants somewhere bright and cool but frost-free, water only sparingly and do not feed.

Cuttings (recommended): In late spring or early summer (about April to June), cut vigorous, semi-ripe side shoots 10 to 15 cm long, ideally before the plant begins to flower. Each cutting should have at least two leaf nodes. Remove the lower leaves so that only 2 to 3 leaves remain at the top; large leaves can be cut in half to reduce evaporation. Insert it into moist, lean seed compost, cover the pot with a plastic lid or a cut-off PET bottle base and put it somewhere warm (20 to 25 °C) and bright, but out of direct sun. After three to four weeks roots should have formed. Cuttings are the most reliable and fastest method and give plants true to type that often flower in the very first year.

Layering (easiest, good success rate): In spring or late summer, choose a long, flexible shoot close to the ground. Remove the leaves at one node, lightly score the bark there and bend the shoot so that this spot can be buried about 5 cm deep in a pot of seed compost or directly in the ground; weigh the spot down with a stone or a wire clip. Keep the soil evenly moist. After four to six weeks roots have usually formed. Only then do you separate the rooted layer from the mother plant. The advantage: the shoot continues to be supplied by the mother plant during rooting.

Sowing (slower, not necessarily true to type): Sow indoors at room temperature between February and April. Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours to soften the hard seed coat; prior cold stratification (2 to 4 weeks moist in the fridge) can stimulate germination further. Sow the seeds shallowly and cover them only thinly (about 0.5 cm) with soil; contrary to a common assumption, they do not germinate as pure light germinators, and a thin layer of soil is an advantage. Keep the soil evenly moist at 20 to 25 °C under a cover. Germination is irregular and can take anywhere from 2 weeks to several months; patience is needed. Note: seedlings can differ from the mother plant.