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Out of control Passion Flower plant!

billywestonartEggilgmRbillywestonartEggilgmR Posts: 2
in Problem solving
How do I control my vigorous, but out of control, Passion Fruit plant? I love the foliage but am weary of pruning it back too hard as it took 2 years to become established. It's also growing through my lawn and showing no sign of slowing tendrils! Getting kind of annoying now, reaching for all plants...

I like this plant, it's a key feature of my garden covering the fence, but I don't wan't this overgrowing happen again, and  to what branch do I cut? Just cut back so it looks nice, or down to the woodier parts. I have no idea! 

Any advice or help would be much appreciated as really don't know what to do!

Posts

  • billywestonartEggilgmRbillywestonartEggilgmR Posts: 2

  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Can't help on control but that's the reason it's on the list of invasive plants, can't understand why it's still on sale. My sister in-laws has decamped from her garden and is taking over a very large Hawthorne hedge, looks amazing in summer but I think it's not really meant to be there
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I just used to chop mine back wherever it was getting thick, or where I didn't want it to be - once you start you can see pretty much what shape it needs to be, and what bits to take out. It doesn't need to be taken right back, but you can chop some stems/branches back to ground level. Cut any new stems back which are growing out rather than up.
  • McRazzMcRazz Posts: 440
    Wilderbeast said:
    Can't help on control but that's the reason it's on the list of invasive plants, can't understand why it's still on sale. My sister in-laws has decamped from her garden and is taking over a very large Hawthorne hedge, looks amazing in summer but I think it's not really meant to be there
    Oh cripes, I've planted 4 at various points along my new fence this year...wish me luck.

    They are going through a very intense growth stage at the minute but i'd have no qualms cutting them down to 1ft above ground at winters end and letting them regrow next spring. 

    I think they only flower on new growth.

    By the looks of it yours will have a very strong root system by now so I'm sure it can take it. 


  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    Robin Lane-Fox said, "prune when you are in the mood".  But prune just after flowering is another good mantra. (Or after fruiting)
    For a decorative plant, prune first of all for shape.
    You could of course treat it as a hedge and do it all over with shears.


     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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