Butterfly Pea Vine - Blue
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Location
Rose Garden
Butterfly Pea Vine - Blue
- Common Name: BAsian pigeonwings, bluebellvine, butterfly pea vine, blue pea vine, cordofan pea, Darwin pea
- Scientific Name: Clitoria ternatea
- Family Name: Fabaceae
- Origin: Equatorial Asia
- Height: 10 to 15 ft
- Width: 3 to 6 ft
- Growth: Fast
- Zone: USDA zones 11 to 12
- Light needs: Full sun
- Salt tolerance: Low
- Soil/pH/Texture: Does best in evenly moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Soil pH should be slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline (pH 6.5-7.5).
- Moisture: Soil should remain consistently moist. This plant is tolerant of humidity.
- Drought tolerance: Moderate – can tolerate short periods of dryness
- Pests/Diseases: Caterpillars, whiteflies, and spider mites may be an occasional problem.
- Growing conditions: Should be grown in full sun in moist, fertile soil. This plant is a climber, and therefore needs a support to grow on, such as a trellis, otherwise it will trail along the ground. It is not frost tolerant and doesn’t do well in areas where temperatures regularly drop below 60° F, and should be brought indoors if there is frost. In especially hot areas this plant likes to have some afternoon shade.
- Characteristics: As a climber, this plant has long. Thin stems that will readily wrap around nearby objects. Leaves are pinnate compound with five or more ovate leaflets. This plant is best known for its flowers, which are round and royal blue with light yellow centers. The fruits are flat pods.
- Propagation: By stems or stem cuttings.
- Wildlife: Caterpillars and grasshoppers may eat its leaves. As a legume, it has a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria.
- Facts: It is a nitrogen fixing plant, and therefore is used by farmers to fertilize their fields. Its flowers are edible and are used to dye food, drinks, and even textiles blue. It is used to make butterfly pea flower tea, which is popular in many parts of the world.
- Designer considerations: Its climbing habit and colorful flowers make it a perfect choice for an arbor. When planted without a support to climb on, it grows along the ground, making it a great option for ground cover. It’s also a popular choice for wooded areas (as long as it receives enough sunlight) because of how bright its flowers are.