Family: Passifloraceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Passiflora mexicana is a climbing vine native to Arizona in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It produces slender, twining stems with tendrils that help it climb over surrounding vegetation. The plant is recognized for its intricate, ornamental flowers typical of passionflowers, and it may produce small fruits following pollination. In its native range, it grows in warm, dry to semi-arid environments and is sometimes grown in specialty gardens or plant collections for its attractive floral display.

Risks & Threats
Although Passiflora mexicana is not known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it does possess traits that are cause for concern, including vigorous climbing growth and the potential to spread through wildlife-dispersed seeds. Members of the passionflower group can become persistent under suitable conditions, especially in disturbed habitats where they may compete with surrounding vegetation. Ongoing evaluation is needed to determine whether it could negatively affect Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, and caution is recommended to ensure it does not become an invasive problem in sensitive island environments.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (tropical/subtropical, varied elevations)
  
• Climbing/smothering growth habit (vine up to 7–10 m)
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and mammals (gut passage survival)
  
• Intentional dispersal by people (nursery trade)
  
• Congeneric weed exists (P. mollissima is invasive)
  
• Generalist pollinators (bees/wasps)

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of naturalization outside native range
  
• No reports as a weed (garden, agricultural, or environmental)
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No documented toxicity to animals or humans