Passiflora caerulea

Blue passion flower, Blue Passion Flower

Family: Passifloraceae · Type: annual · Not Native

Blue passion flower is a naturalized annual found in southern coastal California, western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in open woodlands and chaparral margins at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive corona filaments striped white and purple, creating an intricate floral display. Growing with climbing or spreading stems, it develops ovoid fruits 3 to 5 centimeters long that turn yellow-orange to orange when mature. Its leaves have margins that are nearly entire, occasionally serrate at lobe bases, with persistent stipules that add to the plant's distinctive appearance. The fruit is ovoid to ellipsoid, providing a striking contrast to the complex flower structure.

Habitat: Open woodland, chaparral margins, disturbed areas

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 400 m

Bioregions: SCo, WTR, PR

California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, San Mateo, Butte, Tehama, Fresno, Napa, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, San Diego, Santa Barbara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.