Maypop
Passiflora incarnata
The hardy native passionflower; host to fritillary butterflies.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 15 ft tall, 6 ft wide
Harvest: August to October
From: SE United States
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas. Hardy in zones 6 to 10.
The story
Maypop is native to the southeastern US, reaching southern Ohio; most showy types are tropical. Variegated fritillary butterflies lay eggs on passionflower leaves.
Planting
Full sun. Soil: well-drained (pH 6.0–7.5). Spacing: Pot / trellis. Pollination: carpenter bees and bumblebees.
Growing
Water: regular. Winter: Tropical types come into the garage; maypop dies to the ground and resprouts in late May. Spring: Maypop is slow to wake: don't give up until June. Summer: Give it a trellis. Fall: Pick maypop fruits when they wrinkle and drop.
Harvest and use
Harvest: Maypop fruit Aug–Sep. First crop: 1–2 years.
What to watch for
Spreads by roots (maypop).
See if Maypop fits your yard
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home