Passiflora raddiana DC.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘We have not at hand the book in which this Passionflower has been published; but we believe it is described and figured in the work of Messrs. Link and Otto upon the new plants of the Berlin Garden.  It was from that establishment that it was brought to the Horticultural Society by Mr. Bentham, in the autumn of 1831; and it has been almost ever since in flower.  It is beyond all comparison the most beautiful species in cultivation except P. racemosa.  Its flowers have a richness of colour which art cannot imitate; they are produced in very great abundance at almost all seasons; and in consequence of the length of the slender stalks from which they singly hang, the whole plant has a graceful aspect, which is unrivalled even among Passionflowers.

Unfortunately it is propagated with considerable difficulty, no part of the stem striking from cuttings except what is very woody and completely formed; and this, which is always at the bottom of the stem, can scarcely be procured without cutting down the whole plant.  Requires a hot and damp stove.’  [BR f.1633/1833]. 

‘A delicate variety, this species is moreover, a very free bloomer in a small state, (e.g. in a pot) producing a profusion of blossoms which, for brilliancy of colour, are hardly surpassed by one of the more robust growers’.  [Gard Chron 1853].  Introduced to Britain in 1831 by the Horticultural Society.  [MB p.25/1834].  Fl.Ca. p.11/1838.  BM t.3503/1836.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.730/1843].  A plant was presented to the Sydney Botanic Garden by William Macarthur on September 15th 1847 [RBGS AB].  This species was used by William Macarthur in his hybridisation work.

Notes