31/08/2026
The Passion Flower — A Little Piece of Biblical Story in the Garden
There are some flowers that are beautiful simply because they are beautiful.
And then there are others that make you stop, look a little closer and wonder how on earth nature managed to create something so intricate.
The passionflower is definitely one of those.
Mine has been happily scrambling its way through the garden, twisting tendrils around anything obliging enough to stand still and producing the most extraordinary flowers — creamy white petals surrounded by a halo of purple and blue filaments.
And now, rather excitingly, it has produced fruit too.
But the name passionflower doesn't refer to romance or passionate love.
It refers to the Passion of Christ — the events surrounding the crucifixion.
When Christian missionaries encountered passionflowers in South America, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries, they saw within the complicated structure of the flower symbols that reminded them of the biblical story of Christ's suffering and death.
And once you know the story, it is almost impossible to look at the flower in quite the same way again.
The flower's striking ring of fine purple filaments was likened to the crown of thorns placed upon Christ's head.
At its centre are three prominent stigmas, traditionally said to represent the three nails used at the crucifixion.
Beneath them sit five anthers, which came to represent the five wounds of Christ — his hands, feet and side.
The ten petals and sepals surrounding the flower were associated with ten faithful apostles, traditionally excluding Judas, who betrayed Jesus, and Peter, who denied him.
Even the plant's long curling tendrils were given meaning, representing the whips or scourges, while its pointed leaves were sometimes likened to the spear that pierced Christ's side.
None of this symbolism comes directly from the Bible itself. It is a Christian interpretation that grew around the flower centuries later. But what an extraordinary piece of storytelling it became.
The missionaries even used the flower as a visual teaching aid, its different parts helping them explain the story of the crucifixion to the people they encountered.
Its botanical name, Passiflora, reflects that history too — essentially, the flower of the Passion.
Standing in the garden today, of course, it is easy to appreciate it without any symbolism at all.
The flowers are spectacular enough.
But knowing that generations before us looked into the same curious flower and saw a whole story hidden within it somehow makes it more fascinating.
And this week mine has moved on to its next chapter.
Amongst the leaves is a little orange passionflower fruit — evidence that one of those elaborate flowers has been visited and successfully pollinated.
So within the same tangle of vines I currently have flowers, fading blooms and fruit.
Beginning, ending and beginning again.
Perhaps rather fitting for a plant that has carried a story of death, faith and renewal for hundreds of years.
And all of that happening quietly amongst the leaves in the garden.
Sometimes you really do have to look closely.
The garden is very good at hiding stories in plain sight.
