This is a close look at the amazing Passiflora lindeniana - the Tree Passion Flower.  It looks nothing like typical Passiflora vines because it's not a vine!  It is a free-standing, woody tree, growing up to 60 feet tall and 4 feet wide at the base!  Its outrageously large leaves usually grow 1 to 1½ feet long, but potentially to 3 feet!  This is an endangered species from the cool mountains of Venezuela, where only a few stands are left.  Because of its cool climate origin, it might not thrive in hot climates.  If you can provide the right conditions, it's a very fun plant to grow.  This is one of the "holy grails" of Passifloras.  Seeds are difficult to germinate, so i offer established plants.

Passiflora lindeniana takes on a palm-like shape, with good branching near the top.  It sheds its leaves each winter if temperatures are cool enough.  Indoors, it grows quite vigorously for a woody plant, but you can keep it pruned short if you need to.  Since it isn't a vine, it is completely free of tendrils.  The blooms appear in the spring and have a sweet scent, somewhat like Honeysuckle.  They are 2½ inches across and have a ring of bright yellow filaments.  It hasn't made fruit for me, but the fruit is yellow and supposedly edible.  The plant is nearing extinction in the wild due to habitat destruction by humans, and also from a local species of fruit fly that's been destroying almost every fruit.

I have no information about how much heat it can handle, but it seems to prefer temperatures below 80 degrees F (27°C), with cool nights.  I suspect it won't be happy if temperatures consistently get above 85° F (29°C) and nights are warm (above 64°F / 18°C).  I believe it can only survive down to about 25°F (-4°C).  It has been successfully grafted onto some other Passiflora species, which might allow it to be grown in warmer or colder conditions than it is used to.

It grows well in a large pot.  Like most Passifloras, it enjoys fertile, well-draining soil.  Keep the soil evenly moist.  It likes part sun.  It might need some protection from strong afternoon sun.  Over about 40% humidity is best.  The plant can respond to stress by dropping its leaves, but it re-grows them once conditions improve.

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