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Blue Pea Flower
Botanical Information
| Botanical Information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Fabales |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Clitoria |
| Common Name | Butterfly Pea, Asian Pigeonwings, Blue Pea |
| Species | ternatea |
Maturity days
* 90 days
Planting Months
| Planting months | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Permaculture uses
| Permaculture uses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Usage 1 | Usage 2 | Usage 3 |
| Pioneer | Shade, ground cover, Nitrogen fixer, bee food | Food Colour |
Growing condition comments
| Growing Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
| Drought Tolerant | Somewhat drought-tolerant |
| Humidity tolerant | Prefers humid conditions |
| Planting area | Well-drained soil, can be grown in pots or ground |
| Sunlight | Full sun to part shade (6-10 hours of sunlight daily) |
Photos
| Photos | ||
|---|---|---|
Recipes
Short comments
Butterfly Pea (Blue Pea Flower) is a beautiful climbing vine with vibrant blue flowers used for natural food coloring.
General comments
Ecology
Butterfly Pea is native to tropical equatorial Asia and has been introduced to Africa, Australia, and the Americas. It attracts pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. Blue banded bees are particularly attracted to it in Townsville. The plant can be found growing wild and weedy in the surrounding country, and is often poisoned by council.
Uses
The plant is commonly used as an ornamental vine, ground cover, and for its edible flowers. The flowers are used as a natural food coloring. A good hardy screening plan.
Food
The flowers are edible and can be used to color foods and beverages. They are especially popular for making blue-colored tea that changes color when citrus is added. Can be used to colour vodka or gin blue, which changes to a purple colour when citrus or acidic additions are made.
Planting Depth
Plant seeds 2cm deep in the soil.
Inoculant
As a legume, Butterfly Pea can fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting nearby plants.
Seed Saving Tips
Allow pods to dry on the vine, then collect and store seeds in a cool, dry place. Prolific seeder, a bit weedy. Only plant in a place it can be easily contained. Seed pods dry over winter and explode when ready for seed dispersal during dryer months.
