Butterfly Pea
Clitoria ternatea
A vigorous climbing vine with radiant indigo blooms.
This dense vine with richly-pigmented indigo blue flowers is native to equatorial Asia, where it thrives in sunny, humid conditions. Not just ornamental, the blooms can be harvested for culinary purposes; the petals contain anthocyanin pigments traditionally used to color teas, cocktails, and sticky rice desserts. Make your own herbal tisane by pouring boiling water over the dried blossoms, followed by a sweetener. Add lemon juice and watch the color of your tea morph slowly from blue to violet-pink!
from $3.99
| Unit | Price | Quantity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Pack (15 seeds) | $4.79 | Out of Stock | |
| 15 Seeds | $3.99 | Out of Stock | |
| 50 Seeds | $7.49 | Out of Stock |
Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, providing plenty of warmth and light. Before sowing, nick the seed coating and soak for 24 hours at room temperature. Transplant 12" apart once danger of frost has passed and soil is warm - usually 2-3 weeks after last frost. Provide a trellis or other support for this vigorous climber. Harvest the flowers as desired for a myriad of colorful, fresh uses, or dehydrate for later use as tea or food coloring.
| Days to Germination | 6-21 |
|---|---|
| Days to Maturity | 75 |
| Planting Depth | ¼" |
| Spacing in Row | 12" |
| Spacing Between Rows | 36" |
| Height at Maturity | 120" |
| Width at Maturity | 24" |
| Sun Preference | Full Sun |
Bug Robbins is an illustrator and gardener inspired by a love of folklore, traditional printmaking textures, and the natural world. In this effervescent digital illustration, they express the magic that occurs when lemon juice is added to Butterfly Pea flower tea.