Bold blooms, vigorous vines and surprising resilience—
these passionflower hybrids bring exotic beauty to low-desert gardens.

Snow Queen Passion Vine 

(Passiflora ‘Snow Queen’) 

• Climbing vine
• White; summer-fall
• 10′-20’H by 2′-4’W
• Well-drained soil
• Zones 8-11
• Full to partial sun
• Medium water; medium maintenance
• Attracts: Butterflies

With a parentage that includes P. caerulea, ‘Snow Queen’ features a pure white flower with a hint of green along the petal margins. This award-winning hybrid was developed in the U.K. in 2017 and arrived in the U.S. a few years later. In the low desert, it performs best when afternoon shade is provided during the hottest part of the summer. Its occasional fruits are not palatable.

WHY WE LIKE IT: The ornamental flowers of ‘Snow Queen’ are long-lasting and fragrant. This vigorous climber thrives when supported by a trellis, fence or arbor and requires minimal pruning.

Lavender Lady Passion Vine 

(Passiflora ‘Lavender Lady’) 

• Climbing vine
• Purple; spring-fall
• 10′-30’H by 4′-6’W
• Well-drained soil
• Zones 9-11
• Full to partial sun
• Medium water; medium maintenance
• Attracts: Butterflies

Prized for its abundance of ornate lavender-purple flowers and deep blue-green foliage, ‘Lavender Lady’ is heat-tolerant and does best in the low desert protected from summer sun with regular watering. This variety may produce fruit, but they are hollow and inedible. 

WHY WE LIKE IT: This vigorous climber is an excellent choice for arbors, trellises and walls, making a lush backdrop for gardens in many styles. As with other passion vines, most well-drained soil types are sufficient. Non-fruiting varieties can also be grown in containers of at least 15-20 gallons in size, as long as the pot includes a trellis.

Nancy Garrison Passion Vine 

(Passiflora ‘Nancy Garrison’) 

• Climbing vine
• White and purple; spring-fall
• 10′-20’H by 4′-8’W
• Well-drained soil
• Zones 9-11
• Full to partial sun
• Medium water; medium maintenance
• Attracts: Bees, butterflies

A cultivar of P. edulis, ‘Nancy Garrison’ puts on a spectacular nectar-rich flower show of purple and white blooms. It’s also self-fertilizing and produces edible fruit that ripens in late summer and early fall. It performs best with afternoon shade and consistent moisture in the low desert.

WHY WE LIKE IT: This is a good choice for gardeners who enjoy plants that produce fruit as well as flowers. Fruit can be eaten fresh or used as a sweet and tart flavoring for drinks, jellies and desserts.  This plant requires support in the form of a trellis, arbor or fence. Under ideal conditions, it may flower and fruit virtually year-round.

Lady Margaret Passion Vine  

(Passiflora ‘Lady Margaret’) 

• Climbing vine
• Red; summer-fall
• 6′-30’H by 4’-6’W
• Well-drained soil
• Zones 9-11
• Full to partial sun
• Medium water; medium maintenance
• Attracts: Butterflies, hummingbirds

A hybrid of P. coccinea and P. incarnata, ‘Lady Margaret’ features large raspberry-red flowers with white centers, and is thought to be one of the most forgiving options for low-desert gardens due to its heat tolerance. To protect the roots, plant in a shady area where the vine’s tips can reach the sun.

WHY WE LIKE IT: ‘Lady Margaret’ is a favorite of butterflies and is even known as a larval host for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Grown for its showy blooms rather than for fruit, this plant can also do well  in large containers with trellises, making it ideal for patio gardens as well as the more typical arbors, walls and pergolas.