Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Wednesday - September 18, 2013

From: Charlottesville, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Butterfly Gardens, Vines
Title: Purple Passionflower as a native in Charlottesville VA
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson

QUESTION:

Is it possible to grow purple passion flower as a perennial in zone 7? I am looking for hummers and butterflies to be attracted by the plant. Thank you.

ANSWER:

Looks like you're in luck! I assume when you ask about Zone 7 that you are really asking "Will it thrive in Charlottesville". In either case, most of what we store about a plant is either in its entry in the "Plant Database" or linked to it.

Here is the database entry for Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower)

and, inside that record is a simple link for its USDA Symbol: PAIN6

Going to that USDA record shows a map of its distribution and you can click on Virginia, and see that the Purple Passionflower is found as a Native in and around Charlottesville. So, you've got a great chance of the passionflower being able to survive and thrive in Charlettesville.

Then, just on the chance that you are asking also about some other nearby Hardiness Zone 7 area - - If you compare the Hardiness Zone Map for Virginia to the Purple Passionflower Distribution map for Virginia - It sure looks like it is found native in Zone 7 or higher and as you go up to the mountains in Zone 6, it is not found!

From the Image Gallery

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Passiflora incarnata