A few years ago, when I was given the tiny, black seeds of a maypop, I was told that this plant would definitely take over my garden. I heeded the warning to an extent, but I was sure I could manage my plants. After all, could this vine really be such a bully? Has it really taken over over the years? It turns out that it could and has. This fruit-bearing vine has colonized every square inch of my garden. But I’ve never felt bad about growing the plant, and there’s a simple reason for that: maypop vines grow the most beautiful flowers in the world.

Maypop, or Passiflora incarnata, is a plant that is mostly found in tropical areas. It is also called passionflower or passion vine. The most well-known plant in this group is the tropical passionfruit (Passiflora edulis), which is grown for money in many places. Maypops, however, are native to the temperate, southeastern United States. Up in the north, they grow wild in southern Illinois and Indiana. In the west, they grow wild in Kansas and Oklahoma. I wasn’t sure if the plant would make it in my Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home, but it has done very well and shown that it can handle our weather. The perennial vine grows up to 20 feet in one season and climbs with tendrils. Its big, three-lobed leaves are pretty and full.

But there’s more. The flower has a fruit that you can eat. It tastes a lot like tropical passionfruit, with a sweet and sour flavor that goes well with many things. The quality of wild types can vary, but the fruit I’m growing is great and doesn’t have any unpleasant sourness or funk. The largest individual fruit I’ve grown was the size of a tennis ball and weighed 2 1/2 ounces.

It’s almost too good to be true that you can grow a fruit that tastes like it was picked in a tropical paradise on a beautiful flowering vine in Pennsylvania.

Calling it the most beautiful flower in the world will surely invite debate. But once you’ve seen it, you’re likely to agree. I had to cut off the conversation going on in my backyard when I saw my first flower bloom. “My passionflower is blooming!” I shouted to my guests. I’ve been teased about this outburst for years.

It has big, purple flowers that are up to 2 inches wide and look like decorations on the vine. The thick, white petals are covered in a circle pattern of lavender and white thread-like parts. Like a partially woven silk cloth, it’s a work of art. A subtle fragrance scents the patio when several dozen are in bloom.

Although it does indeed elicit passionate admiration, the Passiflora genus was actually named for the Passion of Christ. When Spanish Christian missionaries looked at this flower, they saw a lot of meaning in the way it was put together that reminded them of the last days of Jesus Christ, especially his death on the cross.

However, the common name is derived from the Algonquian maracock or mahcawq. Native Americans have grown maypops for centuries, and they were likely selecting for large and delectable fruits. According to ethnobotanist Dr. Kristen J. Gremillion, archeological evidence shows that Native Americans grew more and more maypops as their societies became more agricultural and started to domesticate other native food crops. English colonist William Starchey said in the early 1600s, “In every field where the Indians plant their corne [sic], be cart-loads of them.” ” But according to Gremillion, maypop likely existed in a sphere between wild and domesticated. She wrote in The Journal of Ethnobiology, “It may have been planted as well as harvested, but it’s just as likely that maypops grew in number by taking over gardens, and the plants were encouraged because they were useful.” ”.

Over the centuries, maypop has fallen out of favor. A book called Renewing America’s Food Traditions promotes North American foods that are in danger of going extinct. It says, “Maypop’s popularity has not yet recovered from the collateral damage of the colonial period.” ” Dr. Eric Stafne, a fruit crops specialist with Mississippi State University, says the plant’s reputation has been sullied. “It has some stigma of being a weed,” he says. Even though I can vouch for that, I agree with Stafne that the fruit is ready to be revived. “It’s something that has potential,” Stafne says. “I’m excited about it. ”.

How to Quickly Grow Zone 6 Hardy Maypop Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) From Seed (scarify)

Can you grow maypop from seed?

If you’re looking to add some unique and vibrant plants to your garden, maypop is an excellent choice. Maypop, scientifically known as Passiflora incarnata, is a native North American plant with beautiful flowers and delicious edible fruits. In this article, we will guide you through the process of growing maypop from seed.

How do you plant maypop seeds?

With your scarified and soaked maypop seeds ready, it’s time to plant them and give them a cozy home to germinate and grow. Follow these steps to ensure a successful planting process: Fill small individual pots or seed trays with moist potting soil. Make a small indentation in the soil, about ¼ inch deep. Place one maypop seed in each indentation.

How do you grow a maypop plant?

To grow a maypop plant, bury the runners (which have a stoloniferous rhizome root system) in damp well-drained soil (potting soil or seed starting mix) in suitably sized containers, with the shoot and/or leaves above the soil surface.

When should I plant maypop seeds?

The best time to plant maypop seeds is in the spring, after the last frost has passed. This will give the seeds a chance to germinate and grow in the warm weather. Q How deep should I plant maypop seeds? Maypop seeds should be planted about 1/4 inch deep in well-draining soil. Make sure to water the soil after planting to keep it moist.