Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is in the Passionfruit Family family (Passifloraceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 11,406 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Purple Passionflower: observations by month (U.S.)
About Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as maypop, purple passionflower, true passionflower, wild apricot, and wild passion vine, is a fast-growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. A member of the passionflower genus Passiflora, the maypop has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens. One of the hardiest species of passionflower, it is a common wildflower in the southern United States. The Cherokee in the Tennessee area called it ocoee; the Ocoee River and valley are...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Purple Passionflower by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,706 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | 1,360 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 1,120 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Tennessee | 883 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Virginia | 798 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Georgia | 716 | July | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 540 | August | May–Sep |
| Arkansas | 448 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 439 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Louisiana | 412 | July | Apr–Sep |
| South Carolina | 383 | May | May–Aug |
| Mississippi | 333 | July | May–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 263 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Illinois | 173 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 168 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 158 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 155 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 68 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 67 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 57 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Delaware | 50 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 41 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 31 | July | Jun–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 19 | September | Jun–Sep |
| West Virginia | 16 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Passionfruit Family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Purple Passionflower?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from April to September.
Where is Purple Passionflower most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, North Carolina.