Hardy Passiflora (maypop). Too good to be true?

The natural range of P. incarnata does extend into parts of USDA Zone 5. With heavy mulching, maybe a good microclimate, I think you could do it in Québec. They are very adaptable plants.

My wild local strain produces tasty fruit in fall. I think it’s actually better than the commercial tropical passion fruit I have tried, though the seeds of the maypops are bigger and crunchier. There’s a lot of variation in the genetics and flavor of maypops, though.

These native ones die back to the ground every winter (Zone 6b, Kentucky), only to return with gusto every spring.

In your cold zone, it might be helpful to remove the mulch in spring—and perhaps do other things to hasten warming of the soil (perhaps a cloche or mini-greenhouse?)—in order to speed things along and ensure some fruit before winter.

I don’t think many maypops are strongly self-fertile, so it might be good insurance to have at least two genetically different plants.

Even if you don’t get much fruit, they’re very pretty flowers, beloved of hummingbirds and bumblebees.

In brief, go for it! :wink:

13 Likes