How to Control Purple Passion Flower

The purple passion flower vine spreads quickly

The purple passion flower--also known as maypop--can be considered invasive. The purple passion flower is a vine that can grow out runners and plant itself quickly over a vast area. The flower also spreads quickly because it produces a small fruit filled with seeds that are tasty to birds. Purple passion flowers are pretty, but if they take over a grass or garden area where you do not want them, then you will need to know how to control them.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shear
• Shovel

Instructions

1. Pick the small seed-filled fruits off every purple passion flower plant. Dispose of them so they cannot grow and spread elsewhere. This will not hurt the purple passion flower; it will keep animals from spreading the seeds when they eat the fruit.

2. Prune the purple passion flower plant vines in the fall or early spring. Cut away the dead leaves and vines. Avoid cutting the buds off. During the growing season, only trim the larger, healthy vines to control the purple passion flower plant.

3. Cut the bigger, healthier vine stems that run out of the central purple passion flower plant. Only cut a 1/3 of each vine length off to avoid stunting the plant's growth. Trim off completely any vines growing in the wrong direction.

4. Slowly pull the purple passion flower vine you trimmed up and away from the ground. If any vines have a root placed, set the vine down and dig up the runner root. Do not leave any roots. Dispose of the trimmed purple passion flower vine so it cannot grow elsewhere. If you want to plant the purple passion flower plant elsewhere, use the runner vines you trimmed that had roots. Bury the roots and keep the ground moist.

Tips & Warnings

• The more you trim off the purple passion flower plant, the more bush-like it will look over time.

References

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: Plant Guide
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Passiflora incarnata