Fauna
Plant

Yellow Passionflower

Passiflora lutea

Also known as Small-flowered Passionflower, Yellow Passion-vine

Yellow passionflower weaves delicate tendrils through moist woodlands, rich thickets, and shaded stream banks across eastern North America. Its subtle, star-like flowers feature pale greenish-yellow fringes and attract specialist mining bees that feed almost exclusively on its pollen. Bright orange Gulf Fritillary caterpillars frequently strip the smooth, three-lobed leaves, forming a vital ecological link in native forest understories.

Perennial VineNative WildflowerHost Plant
Yellow Passionflower reference1 / 7
(c) Turner Brockman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Turner Brockman · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
  • Zebra Heliconian Caterpillar
  • Variegated Fritillary Caterpillar
ThreatsHabitat clearance, land development, invasive vine competition
HabitatsMoist woodlands, stream banks, river bottoms, rich thickets
Life spanPerennial
Classification
  1. FamilyPassifloraceae
  2. SpeciesPassiflora lutea
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Look Closely: Search for the tiny greenish-yellow blooms tucked under dense leaf canopy in midsummer.
  • Check Leaves: Inspect the three-lobed leaves for bright orange caterpillars and clear egg dots.
  • Provide Support: Offer a light trellis or nearby shrubs for tendrils to climb in native shade gardens.
Related species
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