Is Passiflora Vine Safe for Dogs?

Identification

• Passion fruit originated in Brazil. Although their specific U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone ranges depend on species, they are a tropical plant. Passiflora edulis, for example, is hardy in USDA zones 9b through 11, and is one of the most common passion fruits grown. The plant is a twining vine whose full height and spread depends on whether or not it is given support on which to grow.

Toxicity and Edibility

• Passion fruit is not a toxic plant. No part of the vine, leaf, flower or fruit is dangerous to animals or humans. In fact, passion fruits are known for their sweet, delicious fruits. There are over 60 species of passion fruit that produce fruit fit for human consumption, and no species is known to cause problems in animals or humans. In addition to the true species that produce fruit, several hybrids also have edible fruit.

Safety

• Unfortunately, toxicity does not always correlate with bad taste, so pets aren’t always warned by their senses when they eat a dangerous plant. Even bad taste sometimes isn’t enough, so take precaution when you plant a dangerous plant. Keep dogs who like to explore away from dangerous plants, and if you suspect they may have been poisoned, call the emergency vet or the National Animal Poison Control Center right away. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear, because by the time they do, it may be too late. Planting only safe plants dramatically reduces the amount of caution you need to exercise around animals and small children in your garden.

Culture

• Because passion fruit vine is safe for pets and people, you can plant it anywhere in the garden. However, they can become invasive if given room to grow freely. Maintain its planting area so that it does not spread to unintended parts of the garden or to nearby wilderness areas. Passion fruit needs full sun and does not tolerate salt in the soil. It is tolerant of some drought and some sogginess as well as a wide range of soil types.