Clitoria ternatea - Web page Navigation - Asian Pigeonwings, Butterfly Pea Page

Discover the versatile beauty and utility of Clitoria ternatea, commonly known as Butterfly Pea and Asian Pidgeonwings. This perennial, leguminous herb is a breathtaking vine, valued not only for its striking blue flowers but also for its numerous agricultural and medicinal applications. From serving as a nitrogen-fixing crop and fodder in farming to its usage in food coloring, cosmetics, traditional medicine, and an eco-friendly insecticide application, the Butterfly Pea shows remarkable versatility.
Native to the humid subtropics, the plant thrives in well-drained dry or slightly moist fertile soil. It also tolerates loam, heavy clay, and soil with extreme pH levels. Butterfly Pea loves full sun and regular watering, though it has gained a reputation for drought tolerance.
Growing to a mature height of 15 feet, this decorative climbing plant flowers from summer to fall, offering beautiful pea-like, blue flowers with vibrant yellow centers. These flowers can be used to impart a unique blue coloration to food and beverages.
For gardeners, the Butterfly Pea offers flexibility. It grows well on an arbor, yet can also provide a striking ground cover. In areas where temperatures stay above 60°F, the Butterfly Pea can be grown outdoors, thriving in full sun and welcoming light afternoon shade in hot climates. In cooler regions, it can be grown as an annual, or in a greenhouse, preferring a support to climb on.
Butterfly Pea's genus name, Clitoria, references the shape of its flowers, whilst its specific epithet, Ternatea, originates from the Indonesian island of Ternate, which Linnaeus considered its native territory. Experience the unique charm and resourcefulness of this astonishing plant in your garden today.