passion flower

I saw a video of someone grabbing a passion flower on a walk and making a cup of tea with the beautiful floral bloom. My first thought was “wow, a whole flower in one cup of tea- that’s going to be strong.”  And it got me thinking…was that flower she just grabbed really the passion flower typically used as herbal medicine, and so well known for its sedative qualities.

Naturally this sent me on another months long plant study and exploration. Again- there seemed to be such a variance of information, which I learned was because there are over 500 varieties of passion flower in the passiflora genus.

What I wanted to figure out was- is the passion flower we often see in herbal medicine, the same one that was fruiting outside my window; and could they be used interchangeably.

What I came to find was that the one so loved for its fruit, or lilikoi is better known as passiflora edulis. I learned that this plant is native to South America. I also learned that while this was not the medicinal herb more conventionally used as “passion flower,” people sautéed the young leaves in stews and used extracts of the fruit for a variety of conditions and symptoms.  

I learned that the passiflora incarnata is what is more commonly used in herbal medicine here in the States. As the passiflora incarnata variety is native to North America, and has held a variety of traditional medicinal uses with Native Americans.

The fruit of this plant makings a popping sound and that quality, has given this plant their nickname “maypop.”

The Cherokee people used the root of this plant to draw out inflammation of wounds. They made a tea out of the roots to put in ears during ear aches. They also used a tea of the root for weaning infants.

The Houma people also used the root of this plant as a blood tonic. Blood tonics nourish, replenish, purify blood and promote circulation.

Today the leaves, stems, shoots, and flowers are more conventionally used as herbal medicine.

With passion flower blooming all over town, and that beautiful fruit beginning to ripen- it is helpful to know which variety is which, so that you can make informed decisions when working with this medicinal herb.

Below you can learn how to tell these two plants apart.

Passiflora incarnata identification:

Leaves:

-3 deeply lobed leaves

-two gland on petiole (leaf stalk)

-pale to dark green

Flowers:

-purple or lavender with deep purple corona that looks like fringe

-white and purple rings in corona (distinct and stripe like)

Fruit:

-fruit is called maypop due to the popping sound it makes when you break one open

-fruit is round and yellowish/green when ripe

-center of fruit and rind has a spongey texture

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Passiflora edulis identification:

Perennial that vines and climbs uses its tendrils.

Leaves:

-deeply lobed, typically with 3 leaves, glossy & green, paler green underneath

-two glands present on petiole (leaf stalk)

Flowers:

-approx. 3-5 inches in diameter

-5 greenish white sepals and 5 white petals

-decorative purple fringed corona, (crown like feature surrounding sepals)

Fruit:

This is the key identifying factor for telling this plant apart from other passiflora varities.

-skin of fruit begins green and turns purple or deep red when ripe

-inside is a yellowy/orange pulp that is sour/sweet and contains black seeds

-ovoid or round

-typically 2-3 inches long

Please be sure to always use multiple sources when identifying and wild harvesting medicinal plants.

Disclaimer: These articles are for educational purposes only, they are not a substitution for professional medical advice, and as the reader you are responsible for your own health decisions.