Recognise this rakhi flower?

Amarjeet Singh Batth

Bestowed with ‘Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Passiflora caerulea also called as The Blue Passion Flower is popularly called in India as ‘Rakhi Flower’. In Japan it is known as ‘Clock plant’ as it has twelve petals, a central stamen resembling a time-piece.

This exotic-looking fast growing climber bearing evergreen dark green deeply lobed glossy leaves is a deciduous semi-woody climber which trails on supporting structures to reach up to 30 ft.

It has long flower-bearing twining stems divided in three twisting lobes that hang the vine on outcropping objects.

The leaves are simple, alternately arranged, palmate usually five-lobed. The tendrils arise from the base of the leaves which twine around the support.

There are five sepals and petals that have a close resemblance and are white in colour surrounded by a corona of bluish violet central filaments of purple, blue and white appear from July to September. 

Flowering is followed by egg-shaped orange-yellow fruit. Stamens are five greenish yellow in color and three bluish violet stigmas at the top.

Things to remember:

• Where to plant: It greets the incomer when planted at the entrance with its peculiar shape and vibrant colours. It can also be propagated as ground cover, as a wall climber, on a pergola and is an adorable indoor plant. It flourishes well at a sheltered place facing south or west. It quickly covers a sunny wall or fence and has tolerance for a filtered shade. It loves rich and moist but well-drained soil with full sunlight / filtered sunlight.
• Care and Upkeep: Prune the plant after the bloom is over in order to maintain its good form. It may need winter protection in northern region. The potted plant can be moved under cover. In summer keep the soil moist by frequent watering. Aphids can attack when grown outdoors, while those planted indoors are exposed to threat of white fly, Scale insects and red spider mite.
• Importance: The passion flower is the national flower of Paraguay. Passiflora caerulea has nectar/ pollen rich flowers hence known for attracting bees and beneficial insects. “Passiflora” originated from the Latin phrase ‘passio’ meaning suffering, and ‘flos’ meaning flower. A tea can be made from the flower which is said to alleviate stress and reduces anxiety.

Cultural connect

In the days of Moctezuma, Passiflora caerulea were grown in the Aztec lords’ gardens. Faith-imbued people of the time imagined that the flower’s different parts symbolised various instruments used in the Passion of Christ (hammer and nails, crown of thorns is what gave the flower its name.