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Maypop Passionfruit Improvement Project

The purpose of this project is to collaboratively identify and develop more useful varieties of maypop passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata), a Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US native perennial, for use as a fruit, vegetable, and herbal medicine.
Description

Maypop passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata) is a wonderful native plant, commonly found in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Unlike most of its tropical cousins, its vines die back (senesce) to the ground every winter. It is most noted for its beautiful and beautifully scented flowers, and for its delicious fruit, but it is also commonly used as an ingredient in herbal tea or as an herbal supplement. It is widely believed effective as a medicine against anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Few people know that its leaves are also edible, and have a pleasant enough taste and texture for use in salads or cooked.

This project aims to identify and/or develop unique clones of maypop exceptionally suited for any of the uses listed above. Through a broad-based collaboration with growers, breeders, and herbalists, we seek to find maypops that are particularly productive of large, tasty, early-ripening fruit, or particularly tasty, tender leaves, or particularly potent herbal medicine. There's already a great diversity of maypops in existence, but very few named varieties/clones are available. This project will try to change that.

Volunteers will be asked to grow maypops from seed in search of new and interesting individual plants. Roots or shoots from plants of interest will ultimately be brought together for side-by-side comparison and possibly future breeding.

Researcher background
See bio in "About" section.
Are you seeking volunteer growers or other types of volunteers?
Yes, seeking volunteer growers
How many volunteers do you need?
40
What will you ask volunteers to do?
Volunteers will be asked to grow maypop passionfruit from seed in a situation conducive to their long-term growth (Zone 6 or warmer, planted in a place where they can climb, either a trellis, a building, or trees). Ideally each volunteer will be able to grow 10 or more plants. This is a long-term project, so volunteers who anticipate being able to observe and evaluate their maypop seedlings for at least five years are most welcome. Volunteers are asked to purchase at least one packet of maypop seeds from the Experimental Farm Network seed store (www.EFNSeeds.com), to cover packaging, postage, and production costs.
Other requirements of volunteers?
Zone 6 or warmer, particularly in the eastern US, midwestern US, and south-central US.
Is this a multi-year project?
Yes
Can volunteers expect to be able to keep some germplasm (seeds, bulbs, cuttings, spores, etc) at the close of the project?
Yes, of course
Researcher Location

08318
United States

Project Updates

re: Maypops in 2023!


project update by
elana.schlenker
Monday, April 17, 2023 - 07:43

Hi @julia — I'm not sure about seedlings, but my maypops (planted from seeds purchased here) don't come up until a bit late in the season. I want to say late May/June but can't quite remember. But it's well after everything else in the garden gets going so I'd say it's possible your seeds may still come up!

Maypops in 2023!


project update by
juliawnall
Monday, April 17, 2023 - 07:37

Hello all!

I hope y'all are doing well. I just wanted to check in and see if anybody is starting new plants this year or has guidance for how to do so; I'm in zone 6 and found maypops in the wild last year and fell in love, planted some of the seeds outdoor to cold stratify, and it looks like they didn't germinate. How have you had the most success starting maypops? Does anybody have seed available, or should I wait until fall to collect them?

Maypop Central Europe


project update by
m.hanzlicek
Sunday, April 17, 2022 - 06:57

Hi everybody, i grow maypop in Czechia in Central Europe. My climate zone is about 7a but sometimes the winter here is wet, so its not easy for the plants. In 2019 i planted about 90 seeds bought on ebay (from Germany, Hungary, UK), now i have selection of about 15 plants, best growing and adapted. I dont get seeds from them yet, but last year i had several flowers. Next year p.e. i would like to try more seeds from the most hardy plants possible (whith large and tasty fruits, of course :) i hope i get some recommendation here. Thank you! Martin

Passionflower Seeds (NE Kansas - Zone 6a)


project update by
matt.r.bellomy
Monday, March 7, 2022 - 05:15

Hi everyone,

I previously commented about our passionflower patch in our backyard in Northeast Kansas. I have lots of seed pods that have been sitting outside. If anyone would like some, please let me know. I can't guarantee how well they'll germinate as they've been sitting out and have gone through lots of temperature swings, but maybe it'll help break dormancy? Anyways, feel free to contact me if you would like any. You don't have to pay for the seeds, but would appreciate it regardless as it does take time out from my own farm. Shipping costs will have to be covered by you though. I can't afford to send them out for free. My email is below for reaching out:

matt.r.bellomy@gmail.com

Seeds


project update by
sachvirk
Monday, March 7, 2022 - 04:35

Hello,

I would also love to be able to assist but, seeds are sold out. I can purchase and provide shipping.

Thanks,
Christen

Grower in NJ looking for seeds


project update by
r.pembroke856
Friday, February 18, 2022 - 04:30

Hi I would love to join in on this project but the seeds on EFN's site are sold out. Can anyone help me get some seeds? I can pay for shipping. Send me an email to R.pembroke856@gmail.com if you can help, since we can't seem to be able to message other people on this. Thanks!

Robust Passiflora incarnata patch - Zone 6a (Northeast Kansas)


project update by
matt.r.bellomy
Thursday, February 10, 2022 - 03:33

In our backyard we have a maypop patch that has been going strong for about 9 years. This was transplanted from another home in town, where it was also thriving. They got their original plants from a wild cutting in Florida (I believe). It is a prolific grower, we harvest large bundles of the leaves for tea quite regularly and it doesn't seem to phase the plant at all. Additionally, we don't provide any cover for the plant or take care of it in any way. So it's handled polar vortex weather (-10F) up to NE Kansas summers, easily into the upper 90s & 100s. Been flooded out for a week and handled 3 week long droughts perfectly fine.

So if anyone is interested in getting seeds, or if there's anyway I can help out with this project. Please let me know! I can try to document the growth a bit more this year.

So excited to find this website and group!


project update by
ehobbsbrown
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 - 01:03

I collected some maypop seeds from a particularly tasty fruit in late fall and have just planted them. I am in zone 7b/8a. I will definitely upload info as it comes!

Seeds wanted - maypop passionfruit


project update by
tonyleeusa
Saturday, January 29, 2022 - 08:12

I am interested in experiment this plant in my area. I am in North Central Texas, Zone 7. I am happy to pay for shipping. Thanks.

Passiflora incarnata flowering in Montreal, QC


project update by
mail_1
Monday, July 26, 2021 - 06:06

This is my first flower, it smelled and looked great, unfortunately it was promply eaten by a squirrel. Fortunately there are still plenty of buds to come, so I'll try to protect them somehow.

The vine is about a meter high, growing on a trellis, it just started sending another shoot from the base. I planted 5 seeds in march with no special treatment, I got 4 plants out of them. They are all still alive, but one has barely grown (it got completely shaded by some kale) and two others are growing in a friends garden and I've yet to see them. Though I've been told they are not flowering yet.

The plant this flower is from is growing in full sun on a terrace in Montréal Quebec (between zone 5 and 6) in a 1 cubic foot large container which it shares with a cucumber and some dill. It took a while to get going but in july it's height almost tripled.

probably the furthest north here....


project update by
Columbcille
Sunday, December 20, 2020 - 04:18

Hey yall I'm in Bangor Maine, its a zone 5 here, still in an apartment so I cant try all that I want to with this guy but I do germinate a passionflower incense variety which is from maypop. Once I get some land and am able to amend my soils properly I have some ideas to allow for a deeper root system and hopefully assist in making these more cold hardy through further generations.

Would love to hear any updates from zone 6 participants!

Maypop thicket


project update by
itsmesrd
Saturday, August 1, 2020 - 06:50

I've been blessed with more maypop vines than I could have hoped for.
These are all volunteers and are of the wild variety. I hope to harvest
many fruits, and already have at least two that are approaching 2.5 inches
in diameter.

Maypop


project update by
chonas009
Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 04:02

I have access to some maypops that are on their 3rd season from north Alabama. Are the seeds for purchase from the EFN from this project? They are currently out of stock.

Maypop Seeds


project update by
mspulp
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 - 12:51

I'm just joining this project in planning for the spring gardens but I don't see any seeds available. Do you anticipate having them available in the next season? I'm already growing Passiflora incarnata (PA native).

Germination troubleshoot


project update by
jane.
Friday, June 14, 2019 - 01:08

Hey plant friends, I've been trying to germinate passionflower seed for the first time this season and have not been very successful. I will explain things I've tried and maybe someone who has been successful can help me update my formula/share some tips. I am very excited to get to know this plant just can't seem to get it to germinate. I first tried passionfloria caerulea on 3/15 planting 9 in 4 in pots after soaking for 24 hr in water..after a month no sprouts. I then planted passionflora incarnata. I got these seeds from strictly medicinal seeds. I planted 14 seeds(4/15), some in 4 in pots and some in a smaller 6 pack. I had one thing sprout in the 6 pack but doesn't seem to be passionfloria incarnata. The leaves are single lobed and I'm unsure if it is a vine or not. I'm not sure if a weed seed fell into my start packs or what. It is not a weed I recognize. I am letting it grow out of curiosity. I then am on my third run of tries. This time I am trying many different methods. Starting 5/21, I soaked some seeds for 24 hrs, 48 hrs and one week and now planted out in 4in pots. No sprouts..yet. I am waiting for some more seeds from EFN for this project and would be curious how others would go about germination or any advice. I have a greenhouse these starts are in and I'm in Olympia wa zone 8! Thank you!