Passiflora lutea
Passiflora lutea, commonly known as yellow passionflower, is a flowering perennial vine native to the central and eastern United States. The vine has three-lobed leaves and small, yellowish-green, fringed flowers that appear in the summer, followed by green fruit that turn almost black at maturity. It grows in moist to wet habitats.
P. lutea is a climbing or trailing, unbranched vine that can reach 3–5 m (10–16 ft) in length. Curled, springlike tendrils emerging from leaf axiles help the vine to climb on structures or other vegetation. The leaves are trilobed, 3–7 cm (1–3 in) long and 3–15 cm (1–6 in) broad, with a 5 cm (2 in) petiole. Leaves have smooth (entire) margins and are alternate on the stem. The upper surface of the leaves is dark green, and may be mottled with splotches of lighter green. In the north of its range, it is deciduous.
P. lutea is native in the United States from Pennsylvania west to Kansas, and south to Florida and Texas. It is the northernmost species of Passiflora, occurring slightly further north than P. incarnata, and tolerant of winter temperatures down to −15 °C, and even −30 °C for short periods.
P. lutea grows in bright shade to sunny places with moist, rich soil, such as open woodlands and low alluvial ground.
Yellow passionflower is often good for butterfly gardens, as it is a host for Julia (Dryas iulia), Mexican and Gulf fritillary butterflies, zebra longwing (Heliconius charithonia) and crimson-patched longwing butterflies.
The species exhibits complex floral movements typical of the genus Passiflora. Flowers open in the morning and remain open for a single day, during which the reproductive structures shift position. The styles initially point upward but later bend downward (deflex), bringing the stigmas into contact with visiting pollinators and promoting cross-pollination. However, not all flowers fully complete this movement; some retain upright styles and may function primarily as male flowers.
We have about 10 of these currently in production. It's flowers are smaller than those of Passiflora incarnata
Prices listed are subject to change, based upon size change and availability.
We are a small local nursery with limited shipping capability. We will do our best to ship smaller material (usually 1 or 2 gallon), although we can sometimes ship larger plants with the pots removed.
We have some species that are not listed, as we have too few of them to make a full listing plausible. You can always inquire.
We will consider contract growing an order with appropriate advance notice and availability of seed, cuttings or lining out stock.