Sweet Cirrhiflora

I noticed a yellow spot through the polycarbonate walls of my greenhouse this morning. I found the first Passiflora cirrhiflora bud of the second blooming this year opening part way. I waited a little later to take some pictures, and in doing that, I was rewarded with a sweet fragrance filling my little greenhouse. I really like the smell of P. x belotii, but this is even better. A photograph will have to suffice until that technology is invented. Obviously, there are more flowers to come!

Greenhouse Growth

Well, the greenhouse that I built with my father this Summer is doing the job so far. In fact, Passiflora cirrhiflora is thriving better now than it did outside. It clearly likes the heat provided by the sun and a trash can full of water with a submersible aquarium heater inside and the humidity from a misting stand that emits daily. Of course there are other species and hybrids in the greenhouse from cuttings and seed alike, but the growth on P. cirrhiflora is extravagant. I should be seeing lots of fully form flowers by the end of 2013!

Yellow is a Bee's Best Friend

A third Passiflora cirrhiflora bud opened today and of course I went bonkers with the camera. I got some good shots including one in particular when a honey bee landed on the corona and took a look around. Since the bee populations have taken a nose dive due to what is referred to as colony collapse disorder, which is just a phrase for something for which no one can agree upon the cause, it's rare to see them. But lately, I've noticed with the citrus smell from P. cirrhiflora, there are a few more bopping about.

Passiflora Cirrhiflora in Bloom!

It finally happened the day after my first original hybrid opened. Passiflora cirrhiflora opened early on a Monday morning that I happened to be taking off from work. I was up early to catch it beginning to open. The yellow inside was mimicking the sunrise, and when I inspected it after an hour more of sleep, it was open in full glory. There's not much more to say that wouldn't be gilding the passie.

Whip it in the Bud

It's the middle of August. It's not exceptionally warm, but the sun is still high, and the days are still long. Despite this it seems to be taking forever for my two most anticipated buds to open. One is, of course, is P. cirrhiflora. It has several large and small buds on it, but the largest of all is shaping up and beginning to show color through the sepals. That seems like a good sign, but I know that if I hold my breath in hopes that it opens this weekend - I'll pass out. The other is my hybrid, potentially my first to be registered and named. So, that's big for me, and it could be special beyond that and have potential collector value. I'd be perfectly happy with the first of these attributes. I have no clue when that will open, but it may be on the same day as P. cirrhiflora, which would make for one great day to be sure.

Tenuous Tendrilous Buds

So, I was pollinating a few flowers in Pergolatory after work today. I was heading back into the house, when I decided to check P. cirrhiflora. I had noticed a few days prior that they were a deeper darker green color than the rest of the vine. I noted this as unusual, and hoped that meant something big was coming...or rather, something small. It has been warm lately - in the mid 70's during the day; mid 60's tonight. Maybe?! maybe my hopes were coming true?

In fact, yes, there were tiny buds on the tendrils of one of the growing tips! They're very small. They're very delicate. I'm going to hold off on the pesticides because I've noticed that sometimes it will cause flower bud abortions. I'm going to be careful with the watering and feeding, and the rest is in the weather's hands. The forecast calls for sunshine and warmth, so I remain anxious and hopeful!

Update:

Update 2.

Update 3.

Passiflora Cirrhiflora

I don't have a clever title for this post. It's going to be an updated post where I hopefully track the emergence of the first flowers from Passiflora cirrhiflora. The flowers originate from the tendrils, and I've noticed the the tendrils of my plant have suspicious little bumps. Either these are the beginnings of flowers, or my plant has been sleeping around and not been using protection. Here we go with the first photo.

Update: There have been many buds and flowers to date! Search my blog for "cirrhiflora" or click one of the ready-made links at the right to see all the posts and pictures!

Serious Flora: Cirrhiflora

Well, I've really gone overboard yet again. I purchased through ebay.com a P. cirrhiflora. It's a rare find, and it cost me a pretty penny, but it should be a fun one to watch grow and bloom and hopefully fruit. However, it's not the best time of the year for an equatorial species that loves heat to be introduced to the fold. I'll have to and keep it warm and under grow lights for the cooler season here before I can let it run rampant in Pergola-tory in some iron rich lateritic soil.

The other half of the story is that I want to cross breed this one very much. It could be a difficult task since it's not of the typical families (decaloba: n=6 group, or passiflora: n=9 group). This is an n=12 and potentially without many compatible species. From what I've read, I think my options are:

• subgenus Tetrastylis
• subgenus Deidamioides
• P. arbelaezii
• subgenus Tetrapathea
• P. aurantioides
• P. kuranda
• P. tetrandra
• P. pittieri
• P. kawensis
• P. candida
• P. guatemalensis
• subgenus Dilkea
• subgenus Adenia

Great! I've identified them...now to find them. That should be interesting. I'll definitely have to put this to the Facebook Passiflora group for help. Until I can find a mate, I'll just have to wait out the Winter and hope for an early hot Spring.

Update: I found one! I picked up a P. tetranda from Grassy Knoll Exotic Plants today. Apparently it's pretty hardy, so if I can combine that with P. cirrhiflora, that might be something marketable.