Passiflora Caerulea as a tree?

jamesharcourt · August 2018

I've just picked up a very young specimen for £3 from Wilko, of all places - an impromptu purchase of a plant I already have 3 of, one mature - all 3 as climbers.

However, like Wisteria can be trained to a standard form … is this possible with a Passion Flower? I like the idea of this but whilst I see plenty of resources about training Wisteria as a tree, I see nothing about it for Passion Flower.

jamesharcourt · August 2018

Yes it actually is very useful as you're the first person I've encountered to have attempted it :-)

Did it form a trunk? I'm curious as to whether it was a single stem or grow with a load of stems at the base - and how long it took to thicken up there?

Hostafan1 · August 2018

"Back in the day " you could buy wire frames for standard roses. I wonder if you can still get them , then stick one on a decent strong post about 5ft high , train the passiflora up and through, then spread it out??
Image result for frames for standard roses

Image result for frames for standard roses

jamesharcourt · August 2018

It looks perfect. The plant is currently only about 10-12" high though … do you think I need to introduce a strong stake and frame at the top like that that when it gets closer to 4'-5'?

Hostafan1 · August 2018

I'd put the stake in , go for something robust 3" - 4" round chestnut stake would do it I think, then train it up something like chicken wire until it gets to the top , then add frame, otherwise the frame is going to look a bit odd with nothing on / through it.

Hostafan1 · August 2018

philippa smith2 said:

James - Stick with Hostafan - he explained it so much better than I did - I do have an excuse tho - zero minus 2 and counting !

thanks Philippa, but what does "zero minus 2" mean? have I missed something?

Passiflora Caerulea as a tree?

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