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Turquoise Puya

Passiflora ambigua

Photo used with permission of Mauro Peixoto

This is the rare and beautiful Passiflora ambigua.  Its highly decorative blooms are 4 to 5 inches across, and are followed by delicious fruit.  This is strictly a tropical vine that needs temperatures over 55 degrees.  If you have a large, warm greenhouse, it is an easy and fun Passiflora to grow.

Passiflora ambigua is found in rain forests from southern Mexico to Ecuador, usually at lower elevations, but occasionally as high as 5000 feet.  It is a large and fast-growing vine.  The flowers have rose colored petals with filaments striped in bluish-purple, white, and red.  The 2" fruits are round and are yellow or orange.  They were cultivated by the ancient Mayans and are still sold in markets today.  The species name ambigua refers to how the plant is sometimes confused with a similar-looking species, Passiflora laurifolia.

Passiflora ambigua does best with temperatures above 65°.  It can tolerate dips into the 50's, although it won't thrive at these temperatures.  Like most Passifloras, it enjoys bright light and moist, well-draining soil.  It needs some humidity to thrive — over 50% is recommended.  Give it the right conditions and it will be one of your fastest growing plants!


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Turquoise Puya

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