Tomorrow is Good Friday, the first day of the Easter weekend.
Several flowers are associated with Easter in both northern and southern hemispheres, but one that has a particular significance all over the world is that of the passion fruit vine (Passiflora edulis), as its unusually intricate structure is seen by the faithful to symbolise elements of the crucifixion.
The association came by not because passionfruit are native to Palestine but because missionaries taking Christianity round the world needed new symbols of their faith for new lands, proof that they were right and were spreading God's word.
Related reading:
Medieval symbols of Christianity included Madonna lilies and roses, neither of which are mentioned in the bible, but the passionfruit flower only became a symbol after the Spanish discovered the flora of the Americas and used it in their attempts to convert the indigenous population.
The first Europeans to see paintings of the flower had difficulty believing it was real, it was only after they were finally convinced that the association with Easter arose.
They believed the flower's central stalk represented the cross and the three stigmas on top the nails used in the crucifixion (this alone was a bit of a stretch, as presumably four were needed).
The five anthers represented five wounds on Christ's body and the filaments, radiating within the petals, corresponded to the crown of thorns, the wreath the Roman soldiers placed on Christ's head mocking the 'King of the Jews'.
The genus name Passiflora came from passio, Latin for suffering, and refers to Christ's arrest, trial and execution during the fortnight leading to Easter known to Christians as the Passion.
There are more than 550 passionfruit species, hailing mostly from Mexico and central and South America; Sir Joseph Banks collected P. aurantia in Brazil in 1768 during the Endeavour voyage. A few are native to the mainland US and south-east Asia.
Most are sub-tropical but edible passionfruit also grow in temperate climates.
They survive on the NSW ranges but need frost protection and may not bear fruit.
I have some old photos of a passionfruit vine on the south wall of my childhood home in Kent, in a climate you would scarcely describe as balmy.
Probably a Victorian-era hybrid of winged-stem passion flower (P. alata) and blue passion flower (P. caerulea), I remember its large flowers that lasted only a day but looked beautiful against the old red bricks. Fruit I hardly need add were unknown.
The thought alone of pavlova is enough to make me want to grow my own passionfruit. Vines need a sunny wall, protection from frost, plenty of water and a regular fertiliser hit. Prune only in early spring, as flowers and fruit form on new growth.
Whether or not you're a believer, plant a passionfruit for its beauty, historic associations and if you're lucky, fruit.
For art in the garden, check out Alex Scheibner's exhibition Fuelled at newly opened Rosby Gallery, renowned for its annual Sculptures in the Garden. It's on Strikes Lane, Eurunderee, until April 26, Thursday to Monday or by appointment, contact Kay, 0428 635 993.
Love agricultural news? Sign up for The Land's free daily newsletter.