The Butterfly Pea is a stunning tropical vine with bright green, compound leaves and pearl white flowers. It is an evergreen climber that typically grows on slender stems to 10′ (less frequently to 15′) tall.
It will trail through a shrub to 6′. This climber features compound odd-pinnate leaves (to 5″ long), each with 5-9 elliptic to ovate rich green leaflets.
Pea-like, clear White or Blue flowers (2″ diameter) with yellowish centers bloom singly or in pairs from summer to fall.
It is a perennial plant in the tropics but it is grown as an annual in temperate regions.
It has a fast grow rate and it can bloom in a couple of months when grown from seed. In climates where temperatures do not dip below 60 degrees F., this tropical climber may be grown outdoors as a short lived perennial in evenly moist, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. It appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot climates. It needs a support on which to climb. Where temperatures dip below 60 degrees F., this plant may be grown in a greenhouse. It is easily grown from seed.
