Plant DetailShow Menu

Clitoria ternatea is often confused with:
Centrosema virginianum Centrosema virginianum
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Buddleja Lo & Behold® 'Blue Chip Jr.' Buddleja  'Blue Chip Jr.’
Ipheion uniflorum Ipheion uniflorum
Lathyrus latifolius Lathyrus latifolius
Clitoria ternatea has some common insect problems:
Whiteflies Found on Flowers and Foliage

Asian Pidgeonwings Clitoria ternatea

Other 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, Semi-double
Tags:
#purple#deciduous#white flowers#purple flowers#blue flowers#fast growing#spreading#climbing vines#victorian garden#groundcover#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Blue Sails
  • Semi-double
Blue Sails, Semi-double
Tags:
#purple#deciduous#white flowers#purple flowers#blue flowers#fast growing#spreading#climbing vines#victorian garden#groundcover#woodland
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are flattened pods.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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