With approximately 520 known species,¹ the attractive and colorful petals of the passion flower may have caught your attention. Aside from being an interesting addition to a garden, its leaves, which may be dried or extracted, are commonly known to help alleviate sleep and anxiety problems.²

Although its name is usually associated with aphrodisiacs, the origin of passion flower’s name and its health benefits are actually not relevant to this connotation.³ You can learn more about passion flower’s numerous uses and benefits by reading this article.

What Is Passion Flower?

Passion flower (Passiflora L.)⁴ is a climbing plant known for its colorful and unique-looking flowers, which are commonly made up of two to three varying colors like blue, white, yellow, lavender and red.⁵ Most passion flower species can be found in Central or South America, while some plants grow in North America, Southeast Asia and Australia.⁶

Passion flower’s name came from Catholic missionaries who associated the flower’s structure with the Passion of Christ. As explained in the book, “Wildlife and Plants:”

“The five petals and five sepals represent the ten disciples (minus Judas and Peter), the corona represents the crown of thorns, the five stamens equal the number of wounds Christ received, and the lobed stigmas represent the three nails.”

In Japan, passion flower is called “the clock plant,”⁷ or Tokeiso, because it resembles a clock.⁸

7 Passion Flower Benefits That You Should Know

Passion flower has long been recognized as an herb that may help alleviate anxiety and may be considered an alternative to sedatives.⁹ Additionally, studies have found that passion flower may benefit the following health conditions as well:¹⁰

Other Common Uses for Passion Flower

The passion flower’s leaves are not its only useful component; aside from the previously mentioned health benefits, here are some other uses for this plant that you should know about:

• Produces fruit or vegetables — Some passion flower varieties produce purple and yellow passion fruits, which are commonly found in markets. This fruit is about the size and shape of an egg, and may be eaten as a vegetable if unripe.²¹ Maypop, a passion flower variety, produces a sweet, yellowish fruit, which can be used as an ingredient in fruit salad or made into juice, syrup, jams and jellies.²²
• Produces food for butterflies — Heliconid caterpillars, which turn into longwing butterflies, feed on passion flowers. They lay their eggs on the leaves as well.²³

Does Passion Flower Have Side Effects?

Although passion flower is generally considered safe, I recommend consulting a health care expert before consuming this herb. Pregnant women should avoid it because it may trigger contractions.²⁴ If taken together with other drugs or herbs in excessive amounts, it may cause side effects such as:^25,26

• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Tremor
• Fatigue

Growing Passion Flower in Your Garden

A passion flower plant is easy to grow, and is a wonderful addition to gardens because of its colorful flowers. It thrives in humid environments, but it can tolerate low temperatures as well. It can be grown in pots or beds — but if you do not want its vines to spread all over the garden, it is recommended you grow it in a pot and prune it often.²⁷ Here’s how to grow passion flower from seeds:²⁸

1. Soak the seeds of ripe passion fruit in warm water for one to two days. Throw out the floating seeds.
2. Place the remaining seeds on the surface of a damp potting mix. Gently pat them down, and then place the pot in a plastic bag. For better results, place the bag on a heating pad and seal the bag to maintain its moisture.
3. Transplant the sprouts once they appear. It will usually take a few weeks or months.

Here are additional tips in growing passion flower:^29,30

• Passion flower plants need at least four full hours of sunlight in a day, but keep them out of direct sunlight.
• Keep the soil moist. Do this through one to two deep waterings per week.
• Provide support such as a trellis or another plant where its vines can grow on.
• Watch out for common passion flower pests like mealy bug and whitefly.

How to Store Dried Passion Flower

Like most herbs, passion flower can be dried and kept for later use. Place them in an airtight container, canning jar or zip-close bags to retain their flavor and aroma. This container must be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Remember to label the container to avoid confusion with other herbs. Also, include the passion flower’s date of production — it may not be recommended to use them after a year as they may lose their flavor and aroma.³¹

How to Make Passion Flower Tea

Traditionally, passion flower was used as a sedative in North America and as an herbal medicine for insomnia and anxiety in Europe.³² If you have a sleeping problem, you may also drink passion flower tea as it was found to help improve sleep quality.³³ Here are the steps in making passion flower tea:

• Pour boiling water over 2 grams or a teaspoon of finely cut dried passion flower.
• Steep for five to 10 minutes, and then pass through a tea strainer.

You can drink two to three cups of passion flower tea a day or one to two cups before sleeping.

(From “Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis”³⁴)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Passion Flower