Passiflora Vine hosting Gulf Fritillary Catapillars

[Sarah Moss]

Once again, after months of beautiful blooms, my passion flower vine has become home to the Gulf Fritillary Catapillars. From what I have read, these catapillars feed only on passiflora vines. I hated them until I found that out and now I just sit and wonder how they seem to find the vine in my back yard every year. The bloom photo is from a while back, before the catipillars moved in and the catapillar photos were taken today. They are sort of gross looking, but the butterflies were too fast to get good photos of them.

 

[Rita]

The passion vine most often sprouts back very quickly, so everybody wins!


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[DD]

cool pics. Looks like they're enjoying their "host".

 

[Sarah Moss]

The passion vine most often sprouts back very quickly, so everybody wins!

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It is a vigorous growing vine with no care needed whatsoever. I was hoping that my post might encourage others to grow it. But if anything, it probably turns people away! Passion Flower is one of the most exotic and easy growing flowers I've ever encountered and I find it rewarding to have a colony of baby butterflies, ugly as they may be. Funny thing, is the first time they appeared I picked each and every one off my precious vine. Only after I removed all of them did I google the catapillar and stricken with guilt, dumped them all back on the vine. Now I welcome them after knowing how special this vine is to them!

cool pics. Looks like they're enjoying their "host".

Thanks! It's amazing how quickly they can turn a healthy vine into a bunch of leafless twigs!! But it is nice to watch know that I know what they are (see above). Here is some interesting reading about the passion flowers themselves..... Passion-flowers

 

[Rita]

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It is not uncommon for people to buy the Passion Vine to encourage the butterflies. People with butterfly gardens use both food & nectar plants. And as your photos show, the flower of the Passion Vine is striking - an extra big plus! Enjoy!

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