Passionflower Pops In The Garden

When we first moved to our current property, I was excited to find Maypop plants (Passiflora incarnata, pronounced pas-si-FLOR-ah in-kar-NAH-tuh) growing. This native vine tolerates heat and drought. I found it in sunny areas as well as partly sunny areas, on inhospitable soils that receive no supplemental irrigation. Maypop is cold hardy in zones 5-9. It borders on aggressive in the Snoddy garden. I have tried to eradicate it in several unwanted locations, but it springs back to life from its deep roots. It grows very rapidly, and can be used as a groundcover.

Another common name for Maypop is Passionflower. The intricate flowers are purple and white, with a central structure that was used by Catholic priests in the 16th century to symbolize or describe the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the passion. How did the common name arise? Well, if you step on one of the fruits, it “may pop.”

I allowed several vines to remain in the pollinator bed next to our orchard (okay, I got lazy and allowed them to flourish unchecked). The flowers are beautiful, unlike anything else. I was looking forward to eating the egg-size fruit, which is reputed to be delicious. The internal structure is similar to pomegranate. I kept an eye on them, ready to harvest as soon as the lime-green fruits turned yellow. Unfortunately, the wild creatures that live in our woodlands are not so patient. They removed the almost-ripe fruits from my vines. All but one, and that one lonely survivor showed teeth marks from either groundhogs, opossums, skunks, or rabbits. Sorry, I don’t share food with rodents.

Even without harvesting a single fruit, I am glad that I allowed the vines to remain. Their leaves have fed a number of different larvae and adult butterflies have flocked to the flowers. A common name for the Gulf fritillary butterfly is passion butterfly. While Maypop fruit is edible, the vine stems and leaves are toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses. Deer leave the vines untouched, but Japanese beetles devour the foliage. Despite its toxicity, Maypop would make a great addition to a pollinator garden, especially when planted in a container to eliminate root spread and given a trellis to support its climbing via tendrils.  One trusted university source says that the vines are extremely flammable and should not be planted near the home.

Maypop flower

Maypop fruit

Maypop thicket

Maypop fruit (NOT mine)

Trumpet Vine or Crossvine?

“What is that gorgeous orange-red vine blooming right now?” I receive this inquiry every year. I only need to look at the calendar to answer. If the question comes in spring, I know the vine is Crossvine (Bignonia). If it is summer, the answer is Trumpet Vine (Campsis), also known as Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper.

A Trumpet Vine bloom. This flower is several days old, so it is a pinkish red. Newly opened flowers are a bright orange-red.

Bloom time notwithstanding, there are distinguishable differences between the two. The tubular blooms appear the same, but a closer look will reveal that Crossvine is a reddish orange with a yellow throat, while Trumpet Vine is a solid red, orange, or (rarely) yellow. Crossvine leaves have smooth edges and are evergreen, taking on red or purple tints in cold weather. The vines have tiny little tendrils that they use to climb trees or trellises. Trumpet Vine leaves are attractive, toothed and compound, with 7 to 11 leaflets. The leaves shed in cold weather. Trumpet Vines have little sucker feet that stick like glue to whatever it are climbing. The vines become thick and woody with age, like wisteria.

Both these plants are lovely when in bloom, but Crossvine is much better behaved. Trumpet Vine is aggressive and considered invasive throughout much of the southeast. Crossvine will sucker, but Trumpet Vine throws out long underground runners that surface in the form of new plants. The weight of a mature Trumpet Vine can damage trees. Above soil level, it is a Medusa-like thug that throws waving stems in all directions.

Crossvine will grow in sun or shade, in zones 6 to 9. It blooms most heavily in sun and prefers a neutral soil. It will tolerate drought or short periods of standing water. It will reach heights of up to 50 feet, but accepts pruning to keep it shorter.

Trumpet Vine produces plentiful nectar, beloved by hummingbirds and ignored by deer. If your garden has space for a large, privacy-making evergreen vine, give native Crossvine a try. Other polite, evergreen alternatives include Confederate Jasmine and Clematis Armandii.

The exuberant foliage of Campsis

Well-behaved crossvine atop a pergola

Golden Carolina Jasmine Vine

Back in January, I wrote about Confederate Jasmine. Today I want to spotlight Carolina Jasmine (Gelsemium  sempervirens), also known as Carolina Jessamine. This native vine bursts into bloom along roadsides in March, signalling spring is near. The fragrant, tubular flowers make a bright yellow splash as the vine scrambles over shrubs, across the ground and up trees. The vines may reach 20 feet in length. They climb by twining. Without support, it becomes more bush-like as a groundcover. It helps prevent erosion when planted on steep banks.

Carolina Jasmine will grow in sun or light shade. Flowering is much better in full sun. It is considered evergreen, but the narrow, glossy leaves tend to turn a bronze shade in cold weather. The vine will grow in zones 7-10, and is tolerant of salty air and moderate drought. The cultivar ‘Pride of Augusta’ has double flowers. Skip the fertilizer or you may have over-abundant vine and fewer leaves. If the plant gets woody with age, blooming only at its upper reaches, it can be renovated by a severe pruning. Take precautions to avoid skin exposure. The sap causes a rash in sensitive individuals (makes me break out similar to poison ivy).

All parts of the vine are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. Do not allow children to confuse it with honeysuckle. They can be poisoned  by its strychnine-related toxins if they suck the nectar from flowers. Neither deer nor rabbits browse Carolina Jasmine.

Gelsemium sempervirens has a cousin, Gelsemium rankanii (Swamp Jessamine) that blooms in both spring and fall. The blooms look the same, but Swamp Jessamine is not fragrant. Both are beautiful when grown on a fence or arbor. Carolina Jasmine is the state flower of South Carolina. The accompanying photos were taken early this morning, before the fog burned off. Those yellow flowers are like drops on sunshine.