Table of contents:
- Some famous species of the Passion Flower
- What’s the connection between Jesus Christ and Passion Flower?
- Which flowers are associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
- How to grow a Passion Flower?
- What is a Passion Fruit?
- Benefits of the Passion Fruit
- Does Passion Flower cure anxiety?
- Passion Flower facts
Ever heard the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and how he was whipped and nailed to a cross? Then you must have heard about the passion flower. Passiflora which is also known as the Passion Flower or the Passion vines is a wildflower grown in North and South America. This beautiful flowering plant comes in many colors from red, blue, pink, white, and purple. It is native to the southern Missouri state of the United States.
A member of the Passifloraceae family, though being a wild plant, is also intentionally grown by people. There are more than 550 species of this unique flowering plant around the globe which are the subject matter of admiration of many flower enthusiasts. There are many amazing attributes of this plant that make it better and more special than others. The flower of this plant has five petals and it emits a sweet grape-like scent. Some species of this flowering plant display high levels of endemism, which means that some species of this plant are rare and only grow in selective regions. Apart from Passion flower, this flowering plant is also known as “Maypop”.
Some famous species of the Passion Flower
The Passifloraceae family has over 500 species, with some being extremely rare and some species being highly invasive, spread across the world. We have done our homework and have picked a few amazing and famous species of the Passion Flower which you would not like to miss for the world. Following are some famous species of the Maypop:
1. Passiflora caerulea (Blue Passion Flower)
Native to South America, this amazing member of the Passion flower family bears yummy egg-shaped orange fruit in summers. Although the fruit is perfectly edible and tastes fantastic, it is not advised to ingest any other parts of the Passiflora as they are toxic and harmful. This member of the Passion Flower family is a perennial and grows from 10 to 40 feet in suitable conditions. It is also the national flower of Paraguay.
2. Passiflora Incarnata (Purple Passion Flower)
This type of Maypop is a fast-growing perennial and has climbing stems. Incarnata is prominently used as a medicinal herb to treat anxiety, seizures, insomnia,, and hysteria. It often gets woody in the warm weather but dies in the cold winter. Incarnata is Latin for flesh-colored.
Fun-Flower Advice: The pronunciation of this flowering plant is pass-iff-FLOR-uh in Karr-NAH-tuh.
3. Passiflora alat
Native to Amazon, Peru, and Easter Brazil, this passion flower also bears edible fruit. Requires full sun to partial shade to grow abundantly, this type of Passion Flower grows fast and flowers from the month of May to August. This Maypop was first raised by William Masters at a Kentish nursery and named by Mr.John Lindley, in the year 1824, as Passiflora alatocaerulea.
4. Passiflora vitifolia
This plant also goes by the common name “Perfumed Passion”. It can grow up to 5 meters under the right conditions and blooms from spring and summer through fall. Its name has been inspired by the shape of its leaves which look a lot like grape leaves.
These were some prominent species of the Maypop or the “Passion flower”. The world is full of colorful and dull flowers, though the Passifloraceae family can’t represent the whole flowering plant world, it still does have a greater significance over other perennial species.
What’s the connection between Jesus Christ and Passion Flower?
Let’s learn why Maypop is commonly called “Passion Flower” and how it is related to Jesus Christ. We all have heard or read about the story of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and how he was crucified and his believers celebrate it as Ash Wednesday (the day Jesus Christ died for their sins). This flower is known to depict the crucifixion of Jesus through its structure. The spiraled tendrils in the center of the passion flower symbolize the lash marks Christ got when was being whipped before his crucifixion. The 72 filaments depict the crown of thorns, the lower five anthers symbolize the five wounds that resulted from the nails which were used to fix him on the cross after being hammered to Jesus’s body. This significant symbolism made this flowering plant more popular than others.
The million-dollar question remains though, Why is it called the Passion Flower? It is because Roman catholic priests named it after the passionate sacrifice and suffering Jesus Christ went through to deliver us from evil. So in simpler words, Passiflora depicts and symbolizes the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Intrigued by this information? Wanna learn more about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, have a look at our article on Easter where we have explained it very efficiently.
Which flowers are associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
Flowers are known to be divine, a thing of beauty that fascinates even those with four legs. We have seen many flowers in our lives which are connected to certain things and people, flowers that symbolize life and death. Just like roses are associated with love and romance there are many flowers that are associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We have collected information on those few flowers and have mentioned them down below:-
1. Daffodil
A daffodil flower represents eternal life in Christianity. Daffodils are associated with Christ’s crucifixion as it is believed that this flower bloomed once Christ rose from the tomb, this is why this flower serves as the reminder of the resurrection.
2. Rose
This flower which is generally associated with love and romance also has symbolic meanings in many religions, including Christianity.
3. White Lily
You may have seen this flower used to decorate churches across the world on Easter. It is believed that White lilies began to grow right on the spots where Jesus’s blood fell when he was crucified. White lily bouquets are known to depict Christ’s divinity and purity.
4. Other flowers associated with Jesus Christ
Apart from the flowers mentioned above, there are many flowers associated with Easter and Christ himself. Baby’s breath depicts the significance and presence of God. Daisies are said to represent the naivety and gentleness of Baby Jesus, while Hyacinths are known to convey a message of tranquility and peace of mind.
These were a few flowers associated with Christ and Easter. Flowers have great significance in our lives as we have mentioned before, they are not only made to be admired but are also created in a way that fascinates the observer and forces and compels him or her to study and get a deeper understanding of the flower’s features and attributes.
How to grow a Passion Flower?
To grow this beautiful yet strange flowering plant you need to be prepared and by be prepared we mean you have to pay attention to it, look after it most of the time, check the soil, and keep an eye on its growth. This insanely gorgeous flowering plant needs the following things from you:-
1. Soil
This flowering plant species requires well-drained soil which you need to fertilize in spring and mid-summer to encourage growth in the plant. Do remember to add mulch in the soil as it protects the roots during winter.
2. Conditions
Growing this absolute beauty in the right conditions is a requisite. You need to grow this plant in full-sun where it is known to thrive to the fullest.
3. Watering
You need to water the Passion Flower well right after planting. Apart from that, you need to water them only once or twice a week amid their growing season. Make sure not to skip watering them as they do not survive drought at all.
4. Pruning
If you hate pruning or deadheading flowers, then the Maypop is just the right flower for you. The flowers of this plant do not require much deadheading or pruning, so you don’t have to worry about it.
These are some important tips that you need to follow when looking after a passion flower plant. Look after your plant and it will give back to you a lot of happiness.
What is a Passion Fruit?
Ever eaten any citrus fruit? The passion fruit tastes just like a sibling of the Citrus fruit. The passion fruit is a vine species of the passiflora native to South Brazil and Paraguay. It is round and 3 inches long, this fruit has a thick rind that becomes wrinkly as the fruit ripens. Passion fruit grows in warm areas and has pulp and lots of seeds inside its rind.
Benefits of the Passion Fruit
This exotic tangy fruit has lots of benefits and is an amazing source of antioxidants.
Passion fruit has many healthful nutrition values. It has very high amounts of Vitamin C and A which are important for our immune system, skin, eyes, and overall body. This purple fruit is also a good source of fibers as it is rich in fiber. Fiber is a vital part of the human diet and should be consumed by everyone in an appropriate amount. Eating this fruit will give your body a good amount of fiber which is going to prevent constipation and improve your health. Apart from preventing constipation, this fruit can also reduce the chances of getting diabetes and many other diseases as many researchers have proven that there is a compound found in its seeds that can rejuvenate our insulin sensitivity, which ultimately results in reducing the risk of diabetes.
Does Passion Flower cure anxiety?
Over 300 million of the world’s population is battling anxiety-related disorders. During these bleak times, anxiety and depression have become inevitable but people still strive to counter them by taking medical and non-medical measures. When it comes to the passion flower, it is said that they are known to have many medicinal benefits as mentioned above in the article, apart from that it is also stated by some studies that this flowering plant can calm your anxiety down. This plant is said to boost the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in your brain. GABA is a compound that calms your body and mind. Some studies have also found that the purple passion flower also has calming properties which can help fix your anxiety.
Passion Flower facts
Now that we have learned enough about this beautiful perennial, it’s time to get to know a few interesting facts about the passion flower.
1. Butterflies and insects
The passion flower is like a happy home to butterflies and insects. It can provide food for about more than 72 different types of butterflies. Female butterflies have been known to lay eggs on the vine and the young caterpillars also feed on to. The plant also produces large amounts of nectar which attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bats,, and other insects.
2. Tea
Passiflora can also be consumed by humans in the form of tea. Boil dried our passiflora for 6-8 minutes and witness the magic happening. Fascinated by this? You can easily get your hands on ready-to-made passiflora tea through any online shopping website. We are sharing a link to the passiflora tea we have found on Amazon: https://cutt.ly/xnLQxUe
3. Name
Some call it the Passion Flower, while some call it the Maypop. This flower has many names just like its many attributes. In Israel and Japan, it is known as “Clock-flower”, while in India it is called Krishna Kamal after a Hindu deity.
This beautiful and unique flower has many names, many species, many features and many reasons to be loved for. The Passion Flower is eye candy and captivates anyone’s attention easily. It stands out from the rest, making it highly desirable in the eyes of flower enthusiasts. From India to Singapore and South America to Brazil, this flowering plant holds great significance in the flowering industry.
