Which passion vine species are safe for caterpillars?
First, it depends on the species of butterfly caterpillar. Some butterfly species can eat and grow on some passion vine species that will kill others.
Key:
GF = Gulf Fritillary
ZLW = Zebra Longwing
VF = Variegated Fritillary
J = Julia
? = Although some have ate well, some did not eat and died
Blue Passion Vine – Passiflora caerulea Zones 6a – 10b GF
Blue Passion Vine – Passiflora caerulea
Zones 6a – 10b
GF
Maypop Passiflora incarnata native passion vine
Maypop – Passiflora incarnata
US native passion vine
Zones 6b – 10b
GF, ZLW, VF, ?J
Corky Stem Passion Vine Passiflora suberosa host plant
Corky Stem Passion Vine – Passiflora suberosa
US native
Zones 8b – 11
GF, ZLW, J, J
Boomerang Passion Vine Passiflora biflora butterfly host plant
Boomerang Passion Vine – Passiflora biflora
US Native
Zones 9 – 10b
GF, ZLW, J
Yellow Passion Vine – Passiflora lutea – butterfly host plant
Yellow Passion Vine – Passiflora lutea
US Native
Zones 7b – 11
GF, ZLW (VF and J unknown)
Incense Passion Vine – Passiflora Incense
Incense Passion Vine – Passiflora incarnata Incense
Non-native
Zones 6a – 10b
GF, ZLW, (VF and J unknown)
Passiflora foetida Running Pop passion vine flower host Gulf Zebra
Running Pop – Passiflora foetida
Native to SW US
Zones 8a – 10b
GF, ZL, others unknown
Lavender Lady Passion Vine Passiflora butterfly host plant
Lavender Lady Passion Vine
Passiflora Lavender Lady
Non-native
Zones 7b – 11
GF only in our experience
Passiflora Lady Margaret – butterfly host plant
Lady Margaret Passion Flower
Passiflora Lady Margaret
Non-native
Zones 8b – 11
GF
Passiflora edulis Purple Possum – butterfly host plant passion vine
Purple Possum Passion Flower
Passiflora edulis
Non-native
Zones 8a – 10b
GF
Not all edulis varieties seem to work for GF
Unsafe or unknown
Passion Vine – Passiflora alato-caerulea
Passion Vine – Passiflora alato-caerulea
Non-native
Zones 6-10
Red Passion Vine – Passifloria coccinea (I think)
Red Passion Vine – Passifloria coccinea (I think)
Not native to the US
Poisonous to all US passion vine caterpillars