Fun Flower Facts: Passion Flower

Scientific name: Passiflora

• The passion flower, which has more than 500 different varieties, is native to South and Central America, tropical Australia and the Pacific islands
• The passion flower grows mainly on vines, but there are some that grow on shrubs
• Spanish missionaries gave the flower its name, likening the structure of the flower to elements of the story of the Passion of the Christ.
• The 10 petals and sepals represent the 10 apostles (not including Judas, the betrayer and Peter, the denier); the corona represents the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during his cruxification.
• The flower’s five anthers symbolize Jesus’ wounds; the three stigmas symbolize the nails of the cross. The tendrils represent the whips used by Jesus’ tormentors.
• The blue and white colours of the flowers represent Heaven and Purity
• In Israel and Japan, the passion flower is known as the “clock-flower”
• The passion flower bears a deliciously juicy, pulpy fruit that is consumed by people from around the world. The purple passion fruit is grown commercially in the tropical regions of the world.
• The passion flower is a source of food for caterpillars and butterflies; they are often grown in butterfly farms
• The large, brightly-coloured flower is pollinated by bees and hummingbirds.
• Some medications contain passion flower as an ingredient; the flower has been used traditionally to relieve anxiety, insomnia, pain, epilepsy and high blood pressure.

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Lesley - Fun Flower Facts

I love flowers! I enjoy growing them, learning about them and I love creating bouquets of freshly cut flowers. In our climate where it’s winter most of the time the growing season is way to short, so I have started this blog to get my fix all winter!

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