WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Passiflora spp. & cvs., WUCOLS IV

How often to water passion vine in California

In July in the Central Valley, established passion vine in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 2.2 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Passion vines are a large group of fast, tendril-climbing vines with intricate flowers built of petals, a fringe of filaments and showy stamens. Many garden kinds are evergreen in mild climates, such as purple passion fruit from Brazil, which bears edible purple fruit. Most are frost tender and want full sun and regular water while they grow and bloom.

VineRated for 5 of 6 zones

How often to water passion vine, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for passion vine and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Dry soil at the foot of the vine a couple of inches down in summer means passion vine needs a drink
  • Leaves wilting and flowers dropping in a hot spell point to a dry root zone
  • Fruit wrinkling on the vine after picking time is normal ripening, not thirst
  • Leaves blackening after a cold night point to frost damage

How to water it

  • Water regularly through the growing and blooming season
  • Let the top inch or two dry between waterings
  • Plant in full sun in well-drained soil with a fence or trellis
  • Mulch the root zone to keep it cool
  • Protect frost-tender kinds on cold nights

Through the seasons

Water new vines regularly while they climb. Established vines want regular water in the warm months for steady flowers and fruit, and less in winter, when growth slows. Most kinds are frost tender, so shelter young vines on cold nights. On the south coast, WUCOLS gives passion vine a low water rating. The north-central coast, the Central Valley, South Inland and the low desert give it a moderate water rating. It is marked not suited to the high desert.

In pots

Passion vines can grow in a large pot with a sturdy trellis on a sunny patio. Use a well-drained mix. Water when the top inch or two dries, until it drains through. In summer, check pots every day or two, since fast vines use a lot of water. Empty the saucer. Move the pot to shelter if frost is forecast. In winter, water less, letting the mix dry more.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.711.42.12.90.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.711.42.12.90.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Passion Vine: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.40.310.78–0.78
Feb0.530.650.320.87–0.93
Mar0.871.090.461.3–1.52
Apr1.181.520.561.61–1.95
May1.462.080.641.95–2.45
Jun1.612.480.692.29–2.79
Jul1.612.670.792.51–2.85
Aug1.492.390.742.33–2.6
Sep1.241.80.61.86–2.08
Oct0.871.180.461.33–1.49
Nov0.470.560.330.9–0.96
Dec0.310.340.260.68–0.68
Year1217.116.218.41–21.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like passion vine. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

JasmineJasminum polyanthummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHoneysuckleLonicera japonicamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyIvyHedera helixmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGrapevinesVitis vinifera ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyClematisClematis & ssp., hybrids & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyEvergreen ClematisClematis armandiimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWinter CreeperEuonymus fortunei radicansmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyArabian JasmineJasminum sambacmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHyacinth BeanLablab purpureus (Dolichos lablab)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyTrumpet HoneysuckleLonicera sempervirensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPink Trumpet VinePodranea ricasolianamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPotato VineSolanum laxum (jasminoides)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyItalian ClematisClematis viticellamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHopsHumulus lupulusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBoston IvyParthenocissus tricuspidatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 9

Rated lower than passion vine in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

BougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWisteriaWisteria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFlowering WoodbineLonicera periclymenumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFleeceflowerFallopia baldschuanica (Polygonum aubertii)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCarolina JessamineGelsemium sempervirenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCecile Brunner RoseRosa 'Cecile Brunner'low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyLady Banks RoseRosa banksiaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRoger's Red GrapeVitis 'Roger's Red'low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBlue Dawn Morning GloryIpomoea acuminatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes passion vine, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water passion vine in summer?

In July, established passion vine in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about every 27 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does passion vine need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established passion vine needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for passion vine change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates passion vine separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, low water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Can I eat passion vine fruit?

Purple passion fruit is grown for its edible fruit. Let picked fruit wrinkle for a few days to sweeten it. Choose that kind if fruit is the goal.

Is passion vine frost hardy?

Most garden kinds are fairly tender and best in nearly frost-free spots. Some hybrids handle about 20 degrees F. Protect young vines.

When does passion vine bloom?

Many hybrids flower off and on all year where winters are mild, peaking in spring and fall. Regular water supports flowers. Purple passion fruit blooms in summer.

Does passion vine need full sun?

Yes, most kinds flower and fruit best in full sun. Shade cuts bloom. Give the vine a sunny support.

How fast does passion vine grow?

Passion vines grow quickly and climb by tendrils. Give them a sturdy support. Prune to keep them in bounds.

More plant watering guides

Red HorsechestnutCarpet BugleItalian AlderBlack AlderWestern ServiceberrySnowdrop WindflowerNorfolk Island PineGreen Supreme Manzanita

Sources