Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Blue Passion Flower bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Common Passionflower, Hardy Passion Flower, Blue Crown Passion Flower (Passiflora caerulea).

More about blue passion flower

About Blue Passion Flower

Passiflora caerulea · also called Common Passionflower, Hardy Passion Flower · flowering

Passiflora caerulea is a vigorous, climbing flowering vine native to South America and one of the hardiest passion flowers for temperate gardens. Its striking blue and white flowers are followed by orange egg-shaped fruits. It climbs by tendrils and needs strong support. Important note: all parts except ripe fruit are considered toxic; keep away from pets.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Few or no flowers: Usually caused by insufficient sun, too much nitrogen, or the plant not yet being mature enough (3-4 years from seed). Ensure full sun, use a high-potassium feed, and avoid over-feeding.

The reasons blue passion flower isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming blue passion flower traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding blue passion flower a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get blue passion flower to flower

Maximise sun. Give blue passion flower the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for blue passion flower and get the feeding right with the blue passion flower fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Blue Passion Flower flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full blue passion flower care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Blue Passion Flower blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my blue passion flower flower?

Blue Passion Flower blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make blue passion flower bloom?

Give blue passion flower the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does blue passion flower normally bloom?