Passionflower

Botanical name: Passiflora incarnata
Native origin: Southeastern United States
Part Used In Our Teas: Aerial parts (leaves, stems, tendrils, flowers, and fruits)

A common wildflower in the Southeastern United States, Passiflora incarnata is one of 400 passionflower species in the world; a fast-growing climbing vine with smooth, large dark-green leaves and strikingly beautiful purplish blue and white flowers. It grows 6 to 8 feet long and bears fragrant, edible fruits called maypops. But passionflower isn’t just a pretty face, it’s traditionally used in herbal medicine as a sleep aid to promote relaxation and rest, helping to ease anxious minds and help worriers get some much-needed sleep.

Did you know? You have this beautiful plant to thank for butterflies—these popular butterfly garden plants feed about 70 types of butterfly, and are the sole food source for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly larvae.

We get our passionflower from small farms in some of the most beautiful old farming villages in northern Italy. Walking amongst the rolling hillsides, we’re always struck by the otherworldly beauty of Passiflora incarnata in bloom.