Passiflora incarnata “Maypop”

The Wild, Tenacious Passionflower

With tendrils that curl like calligraphy and blossoms that resemble intricate celestial clocks, Passiflora incarnata, known as “Maypop,” is a living work of art. Its all-purple flowers—spanning soft lavender to deep royal violet—emit a delicate, honeyed fragrance that draws pollinators in droves. Native to the southeastern United States, this perennial vine has deep roots in both ecology and traditional medicine, where it has been treasured for centuries.

In Indigenous North American traditions, Maypop fruit—round, green-yellow globes with a tangy-sweet pulp—was eaten fresh or dried. The plant’s leaves, flowers, and stems have been infused as calming herbal remedies for restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia. Modern herbalists still celebrate its gentle sedative qualities, supported by scientific studies into its flavonoid compounds (Dhawan et al., 2004).

True to its name, “Maypop” is known for its sudden appearance—new shoots erupt from underground rhizomes in late spring, even after seemingly vanishing in winter. In the garden, it is both a feast for the eyes and a banquet for butterflies, especially as a host plant for Gulf fritillary and zebra longwing caterpillars.