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

These are species we have personally raised and did our own experiments with them. If you have raised butterflies on other species, please write to us and we’ll add your information to this page.

Passion vine - Passiflora lavender lady — Passion vine – Passiflora lavender lady (GF)

Maypop Passion vine - Passiflora incarnata — Maypop Passion vine – Passiflora incarnata (GF ZL VF)

Lady Margaret passion vine - Passiflora 'Lady Margaret' - GF — Lady Margaret passion vine – Passiflora ‘Lady Margaret’ – GF

Boomerang Passion vine - Passiflora biflora — Boomerang Passion vine – Passiflora biflora (GF ZL J)

Blue Passion vine - Passiflora caerulea — Blue Passion vine – Passiflora caerulea (GF)

Incense Passion vine - Passiflora incarnata 'Incense' — Incense Passion vine – Passiflora incarnata ‘Incense’ (GF ZL)

Running pop passion vine - Passiflora foetida — Running pop passion vine – Passiflora foetida (GF ZL)

Corky Stem Passion Vine - Passiflora suberosa — Corky Stem Passion Vine – Passiflora suberosa (GF ZL J)

Passionfruit - Passiflora edulis — Passionfruit – Passiflora edulis Purple Possum (GF)

Yellow passion vine - Passiflora lutea — Yellow passion vine – Passiflora pallida, formerly called Passiflora lutea (GF ZL J)

'Citrina' passion flower - Passiflora citirna — ‘Citrina’ passion flower – Passiflora citirna (GF)

Passiflora multiflora is said to be safe for Julia butterflies

The following information was supplied by Donald Burtschi. “I’ve had Varigateds and Gulfs on Incarnata, incense, Caerulea, Foetida, Lutea and several forms of Pallida. I’ve also had Gulfs on Morifolia, Bryonioides, Arida and Ciliata. I’ve only had the opportunity to raise Zebras and Julia’s once a long time ago as they are very rarely in my area. And they were both raised on Lutea which is what they had laid their eggs on. “

The following have not supported native US butterflies in our trials:

Passiflora alatocaerulea – NONE

Red passion flower - Passiflora coccinea — Red passion flower – Passiflora coccinea – NONE

Key:
GF = Gulf Fritillary
ZLW = Zebra Longwing
VF = Variegated Fritillary
J = Julia
? = Although some have ate well, some did not eat and died

NONE: We have not been able to feed any butterfly species on this plant. They all died. It is toxic to them.

Unsafe or unknown

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