Neill-Cochran House Museum

The passion vine (Passiflora species) is the exclusive host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly (Agraulis vanillae), meaning their caterpillars can only survive by eating its leaves. Because Gulf Fritillaries rely entirely on this relationship, they are common visitors to gardens with passion vines.

Female butterflies lay single eggs on the tendrils or leaves of the vine. The eggs hatch into voracious, reddish-orange spiky caterpillars that strip leaves rapidly. While the caterpillars may look intimidating and defoliate the vine, passion vines are aggressive growers and typically bounce back quickly without dying.

Avoid using insecticides or pesticides near your passion vine, as this will kill the caterpillars and other beneficial insects.

See the passion vine in our Historic Teaching Garden during Museum opening hours, Wed-Sun 11am-4pm.