Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Grapevine (leaves)?

Grapevine (leaves) (Vitis spp.) — a vine. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — grapevine (leaves) is safe for alpacas.

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Grapevine (leaves) (Vitis spp.)
Grapevine (leaves) (Vitis spp.). Photo: Victor M. Vicente Selvas, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Vitis spp.
Family
Vitaceae
Plant type
Vine
Also known as
grape

Feeding notes

Grape leaves and vine prunings are safe browse for camelids in normal amounts.

How to offer it

  1. Introduce any new forage or browse gradually over a week or two.
  2. Make sure it is fresh — avoid moldy, wilted piles or plants sprayed with herbicide.
  3. Keep a balanced diet: grass or hay first, with a camelid mineral available.

About the plant

Vitis (grapevine) is a genus of about 80 species of twining plants in the family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, both for direct consumption of the fruit and for fermentation to produce wine. The study and cultivation of grapevines is called viticulture.From Wikipedia — “Vitis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 356,705 recorded observations of Vitis L. worldwide, including 115,925 in the United States. It belongs to the Vitaceae family, together with Virginia Creeper. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat grapevine (leaves)?
Yes. Grape leaves and vine prunings are safe browse for camelids in normal amounts.
How much grapevine (leaves) can an alpaca eat?
As part of a varied diet based on grass or grass hay, it can be eaten freely. Introduce new browse gradually.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q191019.