Clitoria ternatea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- klih-TOH-ree-uh tern-AH-tee-uh
- Description
-
Butterfly Pea is a deciduous, perennial, trailing, flowering vine that can spread rapidly to its mature height of 15 feet. Its native environment is the grassland and open woodland of the humid subtropics, but it can be grown as an annual in climates where temperatures go below 60 degrees F. This plant features pea-like, blue flowers up to 2 inches in diameter with yellow centers that bloom singly or in pairs from summer to fall.
Butterfly Pea does well in well-drained, dry to slightly moist, fertile soil, but will tolerate loam and heavy clay as well as very acid and very alkaline soils. It does have a reputation for drought tolerance, but will do best with consistent watering and full sun.
The plant seldom climbs and can be useful as a ground cover. It can also be made to grow onto an arbor.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Susceptible to spider mites and white flies, anthracnose, and bacterial soft rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Blue Sails
- Semi-double
- Blue Sails
- Blue Sails, Semi-double
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Blue Sails
- Semi-double
- Blue Sails
- Blue Sails, Semi-double
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clitoria
- Species:
- ternatea
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical Africa and Eastern Asia
- Distribution:
- California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Northern South America, India, Australia.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies, birds, and moths.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Flowers can be used to impart a blue coloration to foods and beverages.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are flattened pods.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Two inch, pale lavender-blue to violet flower; a large rounded standard which is notched at the tip; the keel and white petals are short; 1 to 3 flowers per stalk arise from the axils of leaves; small bud-like flowers are produced late in the season.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Compound odd-pinnate leaves (to 5 inches long), each with 5 to 9 elliptic to ovate rich green 2 inch leaflets.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Plant grows on slender stems to 10 to 15 feet.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
