Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Virginia Creeper?

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) — a vine. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Photo: Tasja, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Family
Vitaceae
Plant type
Vine
Toxic parts
Berries and leaves in quantity
Toxic compound
Oxalate crystals

Why it matters

Commonly browsed by livestock with little effect; berries are the main concern.

Signs of Virginia creeper poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling and pawing at the mouth
  • Swollen lips, tongue and mouth
  • Refusing feed
  • Mild colic

If your alpaca ate a lot of Virginia creeper

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Parthenocissus quinquefolia, commonly known as Virginia creeper, woodbine, five-leaved ivy, or five-finger, is a species of flowering vine in the grape family Vitaceae.From Wikipedia — “Parthenocissus quinquefolia”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 126,800 recorded observations of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. worldwide, including 101,981 in the United States. It belongs to the Vitaceae family, together with Grapevine (leaves). See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is Virginia creeper poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Commonly browsed by livestock with little effect; berries are the main concern.
What part of Virginia creeper is toxic to alpacas?
Berries and leaves in quantity.
What are the symptoms of Virginia creeper poisoning?
Drooling and pawing at the mouth, swollen lips, tongue and mouth, refusing feed and mild colic.
Is dried Virginia creeper safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

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 Q157968.