Clitoria spp.

butterfly pea

Fabaceae Pantropical

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Clitoria spp. is a genus of roughly 70 species of twining vines, trailing herbs, and subshrubs in the pea family, Fabaceae, found throughout the tropics and subtropics of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Most species climb or scramble 3-10 feet (0.9-3 m) by twining stems, with pinnate leaves of three to nine leaflets. The pea-shaped flowers are held upside down, so the broad standard petal sits at the bottom, and range from deep blue through mauve and pink to white, measuring 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) long. The Asian butterfly pea (C. ternatea) is widely grown for its blue flowers, used as a food and drink colouring, while C. mariana is a low perennial of eastern North American woodlands. Flowers are followed by flat, several-seeded pods that split and twist when ripe. As legumes, the plants fix nitrogen and are grown for forage, green manure, and soil cover in warm regions. Most species are frost-tender and grow as perennials in the tropics or as annuals where winters are cold. Some species self-seed freely and can spread beyond where they are planted.

Native Range

Clitoria spp. is pantropical, native across the warmer parts of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia, with the centre of species diversity in tropical America. Species grow in grassland, open woodland, scrub, and disturbed ground, from sea level to mid elevations in frost-free or nearly frost-free climates.

Suggested Uses

Clitoria spp. is grown on trellises and fences as a flowering climber, as a forage and green-manure legume in the tropics, and for the blue flowers of butterfly pea used to colour food and drinks. The flowers draw bees, and the foliage feeds the larvae of some butterflies. Its tendency to self-seed makes it better suited to informal plantings than tidy beds.

How to Identify

Look for a twining legume with pinnate leaves and showy pea flowers carried upside down, the largest petal lowermost rather than uppermost. Flower colour runs from deep blue to mauve, pink, or white, and the blooms are followed by flat pods that split and coil. The reversed flower and twining habit separate Clitoria spp. from many other tropical legumes.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs through the warm season and can continue much of the year in frost-free climates, with a summer peak in temperate areas. Flowers open over a long period and are pollinated by bees. Flat pods follow and ripen within a few weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

blue to white

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Clitoria spp. grows in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil and needs warmth for steady growth, suffering below about 50 F (10 C). Twining species need a trellis, fence, or other support to climb, while low species sprawl as groundcover. As nitrogen-fixing legumes the plants grow on poor soils and need little feeding, though steady moisture extends flowering. Most are grown as perennials in USDA zones 10-11 and as warm-season annuals elsewhere, sown after the last frost. Plants tolerate heat and short drought once established. Cutting back leggy growth encourages branching and more flowers.

Pruning

Cut back stems in spring or after a flush of bloom to control size and encourage branching and repeat flowering. Remove frost-damaged growth in spring where plants are grown as tender perennials. Trim twining species off their support as needed to keep them within bounds.