Flower profile

Purple passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

★ Official state wildflower of Tennessee (1973)Native in the lower 48

Purple passionflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 14 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–September.

23states

14of our state lists

36,417U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia

🏅

Tennessee's official state wildflower since 1973. Visit the Tennessee page → ^{Tenn. Code § 4-1-306}

Quick look

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.
From Wikipedia's article Passiflora incarnata, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Passifloraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 23 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–September. ^iNaturalist
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 7,876 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #74 among the 109 flowers on our Texas list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,144 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #57 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,802 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #9 among the 112 flowers on our Tennessee list. ^iNaturalist

Purple passionflower gift ideas

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (11,504 records)

Bloom time in each of our 14 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Texas	Native	April–September	7,876
Florida	Native	April–August	4,144
Tennessee	Native	June–September	3,802
North Carolina	Native	May–September	3,468
Georgia	Native	May–September	2,958
Virginia	Native	June–September	2,195
Alabama	Native	May–September	1,777
Arkansas	Native	June–September	1,715
South Carolina	Native	May–September	1,573
Kentucky	Native	June–September	1,128
Oklahoma	Native	May–September	1,111
Louisiana	Native	April–September	937
Missouri	Native	July–September	896
Mississippi	Native	May–September	643

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Texas: Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. ^{31 TAC 69.8}
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Tennessee: Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. ^{TN rule 0400-06-02-.04}
North Carolina: Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. ^{02 NCAC 48F .0301}
Georgia: Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. ^{Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09}
Virginia: Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. ^2VAC5-320-10
Alabama: No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Arkansas: No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
South Carolina: No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
Kentucky: Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Kentucky. ^{400 KAR 3:040}
Oklahoma: No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oklahoma.
Louisiana: No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Missouri: Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. ^{3 CSR 10-4.111}
Mississippi: No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OH (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: leaves, stems. Symptoms they list: “Severe nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and episodes of irregular heartbeat. Consumption of leaves in "herbal medicine" is not recommended.” They also note: “Ripened maypops can be eaten fresh off the vine or made into jelly.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, children, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, children, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records purple passionflower in 23 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Texas counties with USDA records: Brazos, Burleson, Denton, Jefferson, Madison, Matagorda, McLennan, Robertson, Waller.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Baker, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hardee, Hernando, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Blount, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Cheatham, Clay, Davidson, Dickson, Fayette, Franklin, Giles, Grainger, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henry, Houston, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Loudon, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McMinn, McNairy, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Overton, Rhea, Roane, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Warren, White, Williamson, Wilson.

More Texas flowers

Yellow passionflower

Passiflora lutea

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: May–September

Corkystem passionvine

Passiflora pallida

Native

🌼 Blooms: January–December

Pinkladies

Oenothera speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PAIN6.
iNaturalist, Passiflora incarnata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Passiflora incarnata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Tenn. Code § 4-1-306: Tennessee state wildflower.
Texas: Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Texas: Texas noxious and invasive plant list (4 Tex. Admin. Code § 19.300(a)).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
Tennessee: Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act).
Tennessee: Tennessee Pest Plant List (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-06-24-.02).
North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
Georgia: Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed).
Virginia: Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10).
Virginia: Virginia noxious weeds (2VAC5-317-20, Tier 1, 2 and 3).
Alabama: Alabama noxious weeds (Ala. Admin. Code r. 80-10-14-.04).
Arkansas: Arkansas State Plant Board noxious weeds and prohibited plants (2 CAR § 50-101).
South Carolina: South Carolina State Plant Pest List, plants (S.C. Code Regs. 27-135; Clemson Dept. of Plant Industry).
Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Noxious Weed Law (2 O.S. § 3-220).
Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
Mississippi: Mississippi Noxious Weed List (2 Miss. Code R. 1-3-01-136.01).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Passiflora incarnata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Mark Richman via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.