There is something about a pretty flower that elicits a happy feeling from within. Perhaps it’s springtime memories with the joy of the world awakening from its winter slumber. Or maybe it’s the promise of hope as a flower usually signifies the developing of fruit. Perhaps the beauty from the colors, the variation from the everyday green, delights an innate need for aesthetic appeal, the very core of artistic appreciation. Whatever your reasons for enjoying nature’s sweet treat of floral splendor, everyone has a favorite flower.

Purple Passion Flower

My favorite flower is the Maypop Passion flower. I discovered it when I was out with a friend trying to find a particular house. On a doorstep, I was enchanted by a large vine covered in the most unusual purple blossoms I had ever seen, ten delicate petals beneath a fringe of soft fuzzy squiggles centered by protruding stamen. Even the unblossomed blooms were intriguing as they looked like whiskered Chinese dragons.

I had to know what kind of flower this was. Not knowing the owner of these flowers, I was left to my own devices to uncover the flower’s name. A few inquiries into a search engine using variations of purple, flower, squiggly, and vine led to a photo that matched the flower I saw. This photo was provided on a gardening community website and led right to the description where I found its many names: “Apricot Vine,” “Maypop,” “Purple Passion Flower,” “Passion Flower,” “Passionvine,” “Passion Vine,” and its botanical classification of “Passiflora incarnata.”

Growing My Own

Upon discovering this flower I immediately sought out purchasing seeds. That turned out to be challenging since the Passion Flower is not a common decorative flower. It turned out that is was considered a “native weed” along the southeast. Still, with it being such a beauty I was able to find seeds since it is a highly admired plant for its tropical look.

When my seeds arrived in the mail I researched growing tips. I followed instructions and soaked the seeds overnight before planting. It took a few weeks, but seedlings began to appear. Within a couple of months I had my first Passion Flower bloom. What an exciting time to have my own exotic flower right there on my porch!

My Favorite Gift Flower: Gerber Daisy

My favorite flower to grow is the Passion Flower, but my favorite flowers to receive as a gift are Gerber Daisies. They are just so happy looking with their bright colors, open spread of perky petals, and their welcoming shape like a warm, shimmering sun. Gerber Daisies instantly brighten my day. But I find them challenging to grow, so as a gift recipient I love them, but as a gardener my preference is toward the Passion Flower.

Sometimes as a gardener preferences for flowers can depend on many factors. For me, I enjoy the Passion Flower because it is a perennial, it grows easily in my climate, it produces edible fruit, and because the flowers are the most stunning I have ever seen.

What is your favorite flower to grow and why? Share with us in the comments!

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(Original photo by Sarah Eve, used under Creative Commons license.)