• Photo of Clitoria ternatea (Clitoria ternateas)

Plant Profile: Clitoria ternatea

Taxonomy: Clitoria ternatea

Names

Blue Pea, Butterfly Pea

  • Photo of Clitoria ternatea (Clitoria ternateas)

Phonetic Spelling:klih-TOH-ree-uh tern-AH-tee-uh

Genus:Clitoria

Species:ternatea

Family:Fabaceae

This exquisite and delicate flower will undoubtedly enhance the beauty of your wooded areas and gardens. It has the potential to grow into a stunning arbor, serving as a captivating focal point in any outdoor space. Truly, it will become the centerpiece of your garden, evoking images of classic tales like "Pride and Prejudice" and the grandeur of historic estates. With its enchanting vines and vibrant colors, this plant promises an enchanting journey that surpasses even the adventures of Jack and the Beanstalk. Its beauty and charm will fascinate your family for years, adding a touch of magic to your garden. This is an essential addition to any garden, destined to be cherished for a lifetime.

Here are some intriguing details about this plant:

- It requires plenty of water and well-drained soil.
- While it has trailing stems, it rarely climbs.
- It thrives in dry, sandy soil and prefers open areas within pink, pine-oak, and oak-hickory woodlands, as well as clearings and thickets. In all these settings, it will enchant you, drawing you into its heart forever.

Clitoria ternatea Feature Summary

Clitoria ternatea Image Gallery

Tags

#purple
#white
#deciduous
#blue
#white flowers
#purple flowers
#blue flowers
#vintage
#victorian garden
#charming plant
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Clitoria ternatea is often confused with:

Clitoria ternatea Feature Summary

Attributes
Africa and Eastern Asia
Perennial
Flowers
2-in., pale lavender-blue to violet flower; a large rounded standard which is notched at the tip; the keel and white petals are short; 1-3 flowers per stalk arise from the axils of leaves; small bud-like flowers are produced late in the season
White
Blue
Spring
Summer
Fall
Leaves
Stalked leaves are divided into 1-2 in. egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaflets.
Whole Plant Traits

Clitoria ternatea Attributes

Clitoria ternatea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Africa and Eastern Asia

Clitoria ternatea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Clitoria ternatea Flowers

Clitoria ternatea: Flower Description

2-in., pale lavender-blue to violet flower; a large rounded standard which is notched at the tip; the keel and white petals are short; 1-3 flowers per stalk arise from the axils of leaves; small bud-like flowers are produced late in the season

Clitoria ternatea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
White

Clitoria ternatea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Clitoria ternatea Leaves

Clitoria ternatea: Leaf Description

Stalked leaves are divided into 1-2 in. egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaflets.

Clitoria ternatea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Clitoria ternatea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Clitoria ternatea Whole Plant Traits

Clitoria ternatea: 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

Clitoria ternatea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Clitoria ternatea Stem

Clitoria ternatea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes