Centrosema virginianum: Fruit Description
A flat pod.
Plant Profile: Centrosema virginianum
Taxonomy: Centrosema virginianumNames
Butterfly Pea, Spurred Butterfly Pea
Phonetic Spelling:sen-TROH-seem-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-um
Genus:Centrosema
Species:virginianum
Family:Fabaceae
This herbaceous perennial boasts a broad native distribution, extending from the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas to the eastern United States. In North Carolina, it thrives in pine forests and coastal uplands, where it can either spread across the ground or climb around vertical supports.
Centrosema virginianum Feature Summary
Centrosema virginianum Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#drought tolerant
#purple flowers
#NC native
#vines
#trailing
#twining vine
#vertical spaces
#butterfly friendly
#pea-shaped flowers
Similar Plants
Centrosema virginianum is often confused with:
Centrosema virginianum Feature Summary
Fruit
A flat pod.
Capsule
Flowers
Purple 1.5 in Clitoria-like flowers with a white central spot. Blooms throughout summer.
Purple/Lavender
White
Summer
Irregular
1-3 inches
Leaves
Alternately arranged compound leaves with three leaflets each.
Deciduous
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Alternate
Ovate
Lanceolate
Entire
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Thin, flexible stems that allow the plant to trail and climb.
Green
Attributes
Perennial
Twining
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Vine
Deciduous
Climbing
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Native Garden
Drought
Vertical Spaces
Butterflies
Centrosema virginianum Image Gallery
Centrosema virginianum Fruit
Centrosema virginianum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Centrosema virginianum Flowers
Centrosema virginianum: Flower Description
Purple 1.5 in Clitoria-like flowers with a white central spot. Blooms throughout summer.
Centrosema virginianum: Flower Color
Purple/Lavender
White
Centrosema virginianum: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Centrosema virginianum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Centrosema virginianum: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Centrosema virginianum: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Centrosema virginianum Leaves
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Description
Alternately arranged compound leaves with three leaflets each.
Centrosema virginianum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Color
Green
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Centrosema virginianum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Centrosema virginianum: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Centrosema virginianum Stem
Centrosema virginianum: Stem Description
Thin, flexible stems that allow the plant to trail and climb.
Centrosema virginianum: Stem Color
Green
Centrosema virginianum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Centrosema virginianum Attributes
Centrosema virginianum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Centrosema virginianum: Climbing Method
Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining
Centrosema virginianum Whole Plant Traits
Centrosema virginianum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Centrosema virginianum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Centrosema virginianum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Centrosema virginianum Cultural Conditions
Centrosema virginianum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Centrosema virginianum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Centrosema virginianum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Centrosema virginianum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Centrosema virginianum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Centrosema virginianum Landscape
Centrosema virginianum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Centrosema virginianum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Centrosema virginianum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Centrosema virginianum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
