Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as the Purple Passionflower or Maypop, is a fast-growing perennial vine. It is a larval host plant for Gulf Fritillary and Zerba Longwing Butterflies. Its native range is quite extensive within the United States, primarily encompassing the Southeast but reaching beyond as well.
Maypop should be found everywhere within the 90,000,000 acres of the original U.S. southeastern Longleaf Pine forest which was decimated by non-renewable silvaculture practices more than a century ago. This has put hundreds of species at risk that spent millenia living within the Longleaf Pine forest, including the Monarch Butterfly.
Here is an overview of its native range:-
Southeastern United States:
Passiflora incarnata thrives in the southeastern states, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.-
Mid-Atlantic and Midwest:
The vine’s range extends northward into Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.-
South Central United States:
Moving west, its native range includes parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.-
Northern Range Expansion:
While not as common, it may also be found further north in states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even as far north as New Jersey.
In addition to the U.S., Passiflora incarnata is also native to parts of the Caribbean.
It’s worth noting that while the above regions represent the plant’s native range, it can now be found in other areas as well, both within and outside of North America, due to cultivation for ornamental and medicinal purposes.
Passiflora incarnata grows in a variety of habitats, including fields, forest edges, and along roadsides. Its beautiful flowers and unique fruit have made it a popular plant for gardens, while its historical use as a medicinal herb has contributed to its spread and cultivation.
25 Florida-Native Maypop Purple Passionvine Seeds (Passiflora Incarnata)
Maypop Purple Passionvine Passiflora Incarnata seeds. Florida Native. 25+ seeds.