This gorgeous plant attracts adult butterflies - in particular Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) - a truly gorgeous butterfly with bright orange with black markings that is entirely dependent upon garden plants for survival. The moniker "wildlife" should be changed to "gardenlife" in this case. I have given this butterfly a choice between red and purple flowering Passiflora; in my neighborhood it chooses Passiflora vitifola Passionflower, a red-flowering vine. At a maximum of 16 feet, it is relatively short. Try it in a large container.

Passiflora also serves as a "host" plant for the eggs and larvae of Gulf Fritillary, Banded Orange Heliconian, Julia Heliconian, Isabella's Heliconian, Variegated Fritillary, Mexican Fritillary, Zebra Heliconian, Erato Heliconian, and the Mexican Silverspot. Given this abundance the chances are very high that if you can grow Passiflora then you will attract one of these fine creatures to your garden.

Passiflora vitifolia is a twining vine that does best if given support on a trellis or arbor. It can be grown in Zone 9. It needs to be protected from frost or it may die back. Even if it does die back to the ground, behaving as a deciduous vine, it will recover by mid spring. It beautiful complex blossoms, opening for a single day, will populate the vine throughout summer and fall.