HERB OF THE MONTH –
September 2006
Passionflower
Walking out in to the garden during this recent severe summer heat, I noticed my sweet friend, Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata, blooming alone, but abundantly in my summer garden. How beautiful, how tough. This glorious plant. This Passionflower. A flower that looks as if it came from outer space, alien, strange, sweet smelling and beautiful.
If you have never seen a Passionflower blossom you are in for a very special treat. The blossom is ten petaled, with a wiggly center of pistils. Passiflora incarnata is purple, grows as a perennial vine, and likes our hot Texas sun. Once you have a plant established, it will grow quickly over the summer, and produce many incredibly beautiful blossoms, lasting only one day. In the winter it will die back and return to Mother Earth. Don't fret though because in the spring you will begin to notice Passionflower vines popping up near where it was last year. A few years ago I made a special trip to Laredo to buy a wrought iron trellis just for my Passionflower vines The past year it was on a small trellis, and took over, growing over the trellis, into the trees and latching on to anything it could hold on to. So I faithfully placed my new trellis where the previous year’s vines were and waited patiently for the new plants to emerge. Well, Passionflower did not disappoint me. At first I tried to transplant some young vines that were too far from the trellis. Not a good idea. Passionflower does not like to be transplanted. So I waited some more and sure enough, I now have several vines that are growing nicely on the trellis with additional vines in various places, growing up trees, etc. It’s a wonderful site to see.
Passiflora incarnata, also known as maypop and apricot vine, got its name from honoring the Passion of Christ. The name was applied to the plant as it was said to possess religious symbolism. The floral structure was seen to symbolize the implements of the crucifixion. Ten petals for the ten good apostles, the crown of thorns and a whip may be seen in the miraculous flower.
The leaves and flowers of the Passionflower are used medicinally for nervous tension and anxiety. A Passionflower tea or tincture in the evening, or upon awakening in the middle of the night, will help with insomnia. The tea tastes wonderfully mild and soothing. Passionflower can also help to reduce high blood pressure and aid in the treatment of palpitations and some neuralgic disorders such as neuralgia, shingles and Parkinson’s (according to Herbalist, Michael Tierra).
So as you can see, Passiflora incarnata is well worth growing in your garden for beauty, medicinal benefits and for the Fritillary caterpillar which will chew on the leaves but eventually evolve in to the beautiful Fritillary butterfly. My fresh tincture is available for sale as well as several teas made with the fresh Passionflower leaves and flowers.
Green Blessings,
Ellen
