Florarium

   The Passion flowers have been admired and used in many religions.
Various parts of the flowers are seen as symbols of Jesus’ scourging, crowning with thorns and crucifixion. In Peru, New Spain and the Spanish descendants of West Indies called the flower "The flower of five wounds".
   The story started back in 1609 by Jacomo Bosio, a scholar, as he worked on his treatise on the Cross of Calvary. Once Emmanuel de Villegas, an Augustan friar arrived in Rome and showed him drawings of this strange flower. He was told this was the flower of God and he wanted to add it to his book he was writing to the glory of God, but the flower was so exaggerated and strange looking he was afraid to use it.
   He heard from Mexican Jesuits, priests of New Spain which all told him stories and showed him more drawings of this strange flower. He finally decided he had to share this strange flower ‘Flos Passionis‘ to the world as the most fantastic example of ‘Croce trifante‘ discovered in the forest. He did not present it as the not directly cross of our Lord but presented it as past mysteries of the Passion.
   Bosio described his passion flower as follows:

The crown of thorns that Christ wore is the corona filaments colored with a fringe of blood red suggesting the "Scourge with which our blessed Lord was tormented."
There are seventy two filaments which is the number if thorns in the crown.
The three stigmas represent the three nails used on the cross.
There are five spots (stamens) in the hue of blood that represented the five wounds received by the Lord on the cross.
The leaves are shaped like the head of the lances that pieced the side of our Savior.
The underside of the leaves are marked with thirty dark round spots which signifies the thirty pieces of silver Judas was paid to betray Christ.

   The Passion Flower symbolism, as originally perceived, and then augmented, includes:

   Passion flowers are grown as greenhouse plants in temperate climates. The bell - shaped flower bud takes a long time to form, the flowers stay open for one day and then return to the bell shape.
   I grew mine in my greenhouse and it would have consumed everything in its way had I not kept it trimmed. I would summer one of mine in a pot on the patio and then cut it back and grow it in the greenhouse in the winter kept at about 10-15 Centigrades temperature.

   In addition to the most common Passiflora caerulea Linnaeus (1753.) shown abowe there are several frequently cultivated species, which are also parents of numerous crosses as well.

   Passiflora aurantia G. Forstal (1796.)
   Native to Samoa and other Pacific Islands; one of Australasia’s indigenous species. It is a vigorous climber and blooms in winter and spring in the sub-tropical to tropical areas.
   It prefers moist, rich soil and good drainage. Full sun to semi-shade suits this beautiful vine. This plant has been grown in gardens in more temperate areas provided it is protected from frost. The flowers are 40 - 80 mm in diameter and are followed by green fruits containing a grayish pulp and many seeds.
   The pulp is edible but rumor has it that it is not very tasty.

Passiflora amethystina J.C. Mikan (1820.)
   A superb Brazilian native sporting 2′ mauve to purple petals, tipped and a dark amethyst center surrounded by a thin band of white. This is a very exotic looking flower which you will never forget once you have seen one.
   Easy grower which blooms throughout the summer. Foliage is light green and tri-lobed.

Passiflora violacea Velloso (1825.) [1829.]
   Native to Brazil and a very easy Passion Flower to grow, awarding you with deep purple filaments fringed in pure white. This species is an old classic that is very popular all over Europe.
   As with most of the Passifloras, grow in full sun to partial shade and rich soil. Give this plant plenty of room to grow as it will easily grow to 40 feet or more. It will flourish all year in temperatures that do not go below freezing. P. violacea blooms repeatedly and will keep you supplied in its beautiful flowers. Bees, butterflies and birds are attracted to these flowers.

   There are many excellent books on Passifloras; visit my bookstore and find out what is in stock.
   Fruits of Passiflora edulis are edible and a great variety of gourmet food items prepared from them are available.