Butterfly pea is a deciduous, perennial, trailing vine in the bean family (Fabaceae) grown for its sky-blue flowers. It is believed to be native to a wide area of tropical Africa and Asia, but it is so widely naturalized throughout the Tropics that its exact native home is difficult to determine. The species epithet is Latin for “of Ternate,” which may be a misnomer, as the species is probably not native to the island of Ternate. 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 has a reputation for drought tolerance but will do best with consistent watering and full sun. Although it is perennial in the tropics, butterfly pea is usually grown as an annual in the temperate zone. Butterfly pea can grow rapidly to its mature height of 15 feet. 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. Some cultivars have white or double flowers. An edible blue dye is extracted from the flowers and is popular in cocktails and as a natural food coloring. It is pH sensitive and turns pink in acidic solutions. The plant climbs weakly and can be useful as a ground cover. It can also be made to grow onto an arbor or trellis. It is appropriate for an Asian, cottage, children’s or edible garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to spider mites and white flies, anthracnose and bacterial soft rot.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping; Horizontal; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Compound odd-pinnate leaves (to 5 inches long), each with 5 to 9 elliptic to ovate rich green 2 inch leaflets.
Flower color
Blue; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Two-inch, 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.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit detail
Fruits are flattened pods. The pods are said to be edible when immature.
Stem detail
Plant grows on slender stems to 10 to 15 feet.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Tropical Africa and Eastern Asia
Distribution
California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Northern South America, India, Australia.
Wildlife value
Attracts butterflies, birds, and moths.
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Flowers
Fruit type
Legume
Edibility
Flowers can be used to impart a blue coloration to foods and beverages.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Cottage Garden; Edible Garden