Bountiful Gardens

The Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

Maypops are deciduous, perennial vines native to the Southeastern United States. They are famous for their "Passion Flowers"—complex blooms with a ring of purple filaments that look like something out of a sci-fi movie. They aren't just pretty, though; they produce delicious, egg-shaped fruits that "pop" when you step on them (hence the name!).

Setting the Stage for Success

Soil & Fertilizer

Maypops are fast-growing "hungry" vines, but they need good drainage to survive the winter.

• The Soil: Use a rich, organic potting mix. Because they are vigorous, they appreciate a soil that can hold moisture while letting excess water escape.

• Feeding: Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing season. Once flowers appear, a dose of high-potassium fertilizer (like a tomato feed) will help the fruit develop.

What to Expect & Time to Harvest

Because you are starting with a potted plant, you can expect flowers and potentially fruit in your very first season.

• The Growth: This vine grows fast. It uses tendrils to grab onto anything nearby.

• The Harvest: Fruit typically ripens in late summer to early autumn. You’ll know they are ready when the skin goes from smooth and green to slightly wrinkled and yellow-green.

• The Drop: A unique trait of the Maypop is that it often drops to the ground when it is perfectly ripe!

Maintenance, Trimming & Troubleshooting

The "Scrambler" Management

• Support: You must provide a trellis, fence, or netting. In a pot, a tall bamboo teepee or a wrap-around wire cage works wonders.

• Pruning: In late winter or early spring, cut the vine back significantly. Don't be afraid! Maypops bloom on new growth, so cutting it back encourages a flush of fresh, flower-bearing stems.

• Winter Sleep: This plant is a "late sleeper." In the spring, it might stay dormant long after your other plants have woken up. Don't throw the pot away—it often "pops" out of the ground in late May (hence the name!).

Pest Prevention

• Butterflies: You might see orange caterpillars (Gulf Fritillary). They love Maypops! If you want fruit, you may need to move them, but many gardeners grow Maypops specifically to host these beautiful butterflies.

• Root Space: In a pot, Maypops can become "root bound" quickly. If growth slows down, it might be time to move up to a larger container.

Flavor & Culinary Delight

The inside of a Maypop is filled with crunchy seeds surrounded by a bright, tart, aromatic pulp—similar to the tropical Passion Fruit you find in stores.

• Fresh: Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. It’s a tropical explosion of flavor!

• Beverages: Strain the pulp to make an incredible juice for cocktails, mocktails, or a simple "Passionade" (Passion fruit lemonade).

• Topping: Use the fresh pulp as a tart topper for vanilla panna cotta or Greek yogurt.

Pro-Tip: The "Pollination Pat"

If you don't see many bees visiting your patio, you can be the "bee" yourself! In the morning, when the flowers are fresh, take a small paintbrush and rub it on the fuzzy yellow anthers (the pollen-makers) and then onto the central sticky stigma. This almost guarantees you'll have a heavy crop of fruit by the end of summer!