Clitoria laurifolia
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Clitoria cajanifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- klih-TOH-ree-uh lo-re-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Butterfly pea is a tropical sub-shrub in the pea family (Fabaceae) native to South America. It is found in tropical to sub-tropical areas with annual rainfall of around 70 inches and high humidity. It can become weedy outside of its native range.
The butterfly pea grows up to 3 feet tall and needs full sun in well-drained sandy, clay or loamy soils.
The flowers appear in summer and are pea-like in white, pink or purple with purple markings on the lower petal.
It is widely grown as a green manure and cover crop in rubber and coffee plantations dur to its ability to fix nitrogen. The deep woody roots make it useful for erosion control. It is sometimes cultivated for cattle fodder.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clitoria
- Species:
- laurifolia
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In Indonesia, the leaves are used to cure pimples.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Legume brown or light brown, oval and hairy
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers appear in spring and are 2-lipped and pea-shaped. They come in white, pink or purple with purple markings on the lower petal. They are 1-2 inches long and grow singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are trifoliolate and 2-4 inches long. Leaflets are oval and 1-2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide. Undersides have a few hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Green stem with hairs. Can become woody with age.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Weedy
