Purple Passionflower

Purple Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata

Purple Passionflower, also known as the Holy-Trinity flower, Maypop, White Sarsaparilla, and passion vine to name a few, is a native perennial vine found along the southeastern portion of the United States. The unique, showy flowers bloom generally June to October. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers, and the young tendrils are a favorite of wild turkeys. There is an extensive history with human consumption as well. The fruits, nicknamed maypop, were eaten raw, made into juice, or boiled into syrup while the young shoots and leaves were eaten with other greens by Native Americans. The roots were made into a tea used for inflammation, to aid in weaning, and to treat liver problems to name a few ailments. It is still in practice today to help treat anxiety and insomnia as well as gastrointestinal upset and to relieve symptoms of narcotic drug withdrawal.