Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Last reviewed: June 2026
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
120"–240" H × 60"–120" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, FL, GA and 16 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Purple passionflower is a vigorous native vine that produces intricate, showy purple and white flowers from summer through fall. This climbing plant can reach 10-20 feet in height and spreads readily by underground runners, making it excellent for covering fences, trellises, or arbors.
In an HOA neighborhood
Purple Passionflower takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Spreads aggressively by runners and can become invasive
- May look messy or overgrown without constant pruning
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare support structures
Wildlife value
Host plant for gulf fritillary butterfly, zebra longwing butterfly.
The complex flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds for nectar, while serving as the primary host plant for Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing butterfly caterpillars. The orange fruits that follow provide food for birds and small mammals.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Does Purple Passionflower fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.