‘Cooltropics Snowstar’ is a wonderful Passiflora, that is ready to bloom from July until September. It generates bundles of pure white, snowflake-like flowers, that boast unique wavy petals and a popping lime coloured centre. Later followed by egg-shaped yellow fruits, its striking blooms cloak a deciduous growing habit of fresh green foliage and measure around 9cm in width! The perfect perennial for growing in patio pots, along walls and fences, it will also look stunning in a tropical or coastal themed landscape. Happy to progress in direct sunlight, watch it thrive to a height of 3.5m, along with a spread of 1m. Hardy, fruit-bearing and above all, stunningly beautiful! A breeding breakthrough has led to the development of this exciting Passiflora incarnata Cooltropics® hybrid.
Plant Passiflora Cooltropics® plants into any moist, well drained soil. Choose a sunny position that is protected from cold winds in winter. Plants grown in the warmest positions (eg a greenhouse or polytunnel) will start growing earlier and the fruits will ripen better.
Prior to planting, add plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost to the soil. When growing passion flower, be sure to provide the twining stems with an appropriate support such as trellis or wires attached to fences and pergolas.
Plants can also be grown in large containers, minimal size 10 litres. Container grown plants will need to be moved into a frost-free position over winter.
Feed and water regularly throughout the growing season. In autumn, apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the base of the plant.
In late autumn, simply cut back the above-ground part to 10 cm. Light winter protection, such as a thick mulch, is recommended. In the winter plants will die back to below ground. Plants require warmth and will not reemerge until late spring, around mid to late May.
Plants are self infertile and so two plants are required to pollinate each other and produce fruit.
