Bracted Passionflower Vine

A native vine with small, intricately structured green flowers. The fruits are attractive to birds, who plant it along fencelines and underneath common hedge plants in northern San Antonio — luckily, because this passionflower is very uncommon in the nursery trade.

Homeowners are often unaware of its presence, but passion flower is the larval food source for the silvery-orange Gulf Fritillary butterfly, which makes a big splash in the summer garden. Its caterpillars look spiky but they are harmless; let them munch away if you want loads of butterflies.