Passiflora 'Mission Dolores'
Passiflora 'Mission Dolores' is a hybrid of P. parritae and P. antioquiensis that was created by Carlos Rendon just a few years ago. It has a lot of qualities that might make it appeal to those interested in ornamental value, high quality fruit and making the best use of space.
For those not familiar with Passifloras, the plant is a hybrid of two Andean plants that are among the most spectacular of the genus:
P. antioquiensis (pictures on Gardenweb):
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/137454/
P. parritae (pictures from Myles Irvine's site):
http://www.passionflow.co.uk/passiflora-parritae.htm
P. 'Mission Dolores' has many of the best features of both parents. It is a vigorous plant, but the vines are slender and easy to control. The leaves are thin and don't cast too much shade. Like others of the Tacsonia group it doesn't like too much heat and mine formed deformed leaves during our heat waves last summer (I'm in the SF South Bay). However it thrived, and the one gallon plant I bought in July had what looked like viable buds (they were killed by the December freeze). The plant appears to be damaged by temps in the upper 20s.
The flower itself is amazing--bright pinkish/red and 6.5 inches in diameter. It has long peduncles (stems) like P. antioquiensis--they are in fact longer on average, I'm told--up to 2 feet.
Here's a picture of the plant growing at Strybing Arboretum in the trees:
http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m393/mark43210/strybing%20trip/?action=view¤t=missiondolores_strybing2.jpg
(again if someone can repost that here it would be great)
As you can imagine something that grows in the trees in San Francisco's climate can take a lot of shade. In fact, afternoon shade is probably essential if there's much heat at all. It likes it moist at the roots with loose soil.
This is a spectacular plant that is a candidate for growing among the fruit trees where they would provide shade (and some protection from frost). It also has a long blooming season.
As some may know, Passiflora antioquiensis is considered to have among the best tasting fruit in the genus. P. 'Mission Dolores' is self-fertile and I'm told produces fruit readily. I have tasted the juice of a P. ''Mission Dolores' and it was very good. I haven't had P. antioquiensis so I can't compare.
Plants are sometimes available at monthly sales at Strybing Arboretum. Grassy Knoll Exotics has just started selling the plant as well:
http://gkexoticplants.com/products/Passiflora_Mission_Dolores_4_pot-272-7.html
As far as adaptability I think that's an open question. It was first grown in San Francisco, I'm growing it in the South Bay and a friend is growing it successfully in Orange County, where it made it through what I understand was a long period of intense heat last year. Both of us have young plants and are waiting for them to bloom. The Grassy Knoll description reports that it might take more heat when grafted, although I don't know the details of that.
The following thread was started by Randy on February 08, 2010 at 10:23 pm PST
Here's another photo of the flower, from Dave H. at Strybing:
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww239/daveh_sf/Passiflora/Passifloraparritaexantio39-08.jpg
My plant when I bought it in June for $15 at Strybing, to give you a sense of the overall appearance:
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m393/mark43210/Strybing%20sale/DSCN1577-1-1.jpg
The above followup was added by Randy on February 08, 2010 at 11:15 pm PST.
Posting your images
The above followup was added by Axel on February 09, 2010 at 7:24 am PST.
More
The above followup was added by Axel on February 09, 2010 at 7:25 am PST.
More
The above followup was added by Axel on February 09, 2010 at 7:27 am PST.
Nm
The above followup was added by Axel on February 09, 2010 at 8:08 am PST.
I've played around with tacsonias for a while, looking for that elusive good tasting banana passion fruit. So far, my conclusion is that nothing can compete with the intensely exotic tropical flavor of edulis.
The trouble with tacsonias is that they want to take over entire trees. I've had a lot of difficulty managing plants in my orchard, and this has slowly eroded my interest in them.
This new hybrid looks very nice, for ornamental value this is a good choice, let us know when you get fruit.
The above followup was added by Axel on February 09, 2010 at 8:16 am PST.
Hi Axel,
Thanks for posting the photos. I would emphasize that the big one of the flower is from Dave H. (not sure if he wants his full name online) and not from me.
I haven't personally had fruit, but I did get one from a friend's plant. Here's a photo of half the fruit plus seeds:
http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m393/mark43210/passiflora/?action=view¤t=MissionDolores_guts.jpg
I only tasted it quickly the one time, but I would describe it as sort of like orange juice, without the tartness.
I understand the fruits formed right now are smaller than those from warmer times of the year. I have not tasted those.
I'm hoping my plant will bloom this Spring. Nancy Garrison also has a plant that is hopefully big enough to bloom this year, so maybe she'll be able to taste it soon as well.
The above followup was added by randy on February 09, 2010 at 8:41 am PST.
Here it is.
The above followup was added by Axel on February 09, 2010 at 3:13 pm PST.
Axel,
I should add that I do grow two varieties of P.edulis ('Frederick' and 'Nancy Garrison'). Both are also plants from Grassy Knoll. Still, there's something special about P. 'Mission Dolores'.
Here's P. edulis 'Nancy Garrison' on the vine, in July:
http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m393/mark43210/passiflora/?action=view¤t=DSCN1642.jpg
Those fruits got ripe months ago, but there are still more ripening on the vine. A photo from a few minutes ago:
http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m393/mark43210/passiflora/?action=view¤t=PNancyGarrisioninFebruary.jpg
P. edulis 'Nancy Garrison' has been a great producer for me in the short time I've had it, and the flowers are certainly beautiful, however P. 'Mission Dolores' is truly stunning.
P. edulis 'Nancy Garrison' by the way, is also the variety of P. edulis that has a reputation for extra cold tolerance. Mine was undamaged in the last two December's freezes.
My P. edulis plants (in the ground) are in much greater danger of taking over anything than my P. 'Mission Dolores' (in a 5 gallon pot or even I suspect if it were in the ground). Even the P.edulis are very manageable when pruned regularly. P. 'Mission Dolores isn't a monster like P. manicata. P. mixta or P. tarminiana (frequently incorrectly called P. mollissima). The P. antioquiensis parent of P. 'Mission Dolores' has a reputation for being a small growing plant; I'm sure this is part of the reason.
On Saturday I was at Strybing with some friends. We couldn't find the P. 'Mission Dolores' vine in the trees--there were no flowers at the moment. Had it been pruned back? We weren't sure. It's not a monster.
The above followup was added by Randy on February 09, 2010 at 8:18 pm PST.