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Will my passion flower climb?

nick1988raynornick1988raynor Posts: 51
in Plants
Hi, I've been been given a passion flower as a gift and have been thinking about where I could plant it. I have a square metal post in my front garden and was wondering how well it would climb this? Also would it do best planted at the base or in a pot/barrel of some sort? Thank you in advance 😊

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In theory - yes, it will grow up  that, but as it's broad and shiny, you'd be better to attach some chicken wire or similar round it, as the tendrils will struggle to attach to that surface. 
    It would be better in the ground if you can manage it. Do you know which variety it is? Some are hardier than others. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    edited June 2019
    Hello Nick. Your passion flower climbs using tendrils so it will need something slim to start it off growing up that pole. Eventually when it gets tall enough it can be wrapped around the pole and encouraged to cling to itself. I would be inclined to plant it in the ground rather than a pot and use a couple of tall bamboo canes to allow its tendrils to latch on to.
    p.s. I notice on your wall a cable cover (?) so if you decided on the planting in the ground option take care when digging that you don't go through any cables.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • nick1988raynornick1988raynor Posts: 51
    Thanks for the advice, would the chicken wire need to go around the pole from top to bottom?? And any idea how close to the pole? Not sure what variety it is :s
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    I thought there was a risk of passion flower becoming invasive? I ask this because I've also put mine in a pot to counter this and growth seems quite slow. 
  • DyersEndDyersEnd Posts: 730
    Astro, I had a passion flower that rampaged everywhere including trying to get into a monkey puzzle tree. I chopped it back, dug it up and put it in a big pot sitting on a base. It needs a lot of water and is less vigorous but it still climbs up the trellis behind it and flowers well enough.
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    DyersEnd said:
    Astro, I had a passion flower that rampaged everywhere including trying to get into a monkey puzzle tree. I chopped it back, dug it up and put it in a big pot sitting on a base. It needs a lot of water and is less vigorous but it still climbs up the trellis behind it and flowers well enough.
    Thanks for that. I think I might leave it in the pot for now and see how it gets on 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Mine would be rampant but I cut it back almost the ground in Spring so it never gets any bigger. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • TryingtogrowvegTryingtogrowveg Posts: 18
    I inherited one in a small sheltered courtyard and was in a pot. It rampaged everyear and I would top dress it and cut it back at the end of the season leaving a main stem. It lasted 8 years and started fruiting which were inedible. It was so vigarous that it out performed the wisteria Andy everything else. It wasn't in a very sheltered area . When I moved and dig it into a south facing garden it didn't come back however...
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