Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea): Edible Blue Flowers for Tea and Dye

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea), also called blue pea vine, is a fast-growing, twining vine with trifoliate leaves and striking, deep blue, pea-like flowers (white forms exist). The flowers are used to make color-changing blue tea (turns purple with lemon) and natural food dye.

Uses

The flowers are edible and rich in antioxidants. The vine is also a nitrogen-fixing legume, improving soil. It grows 6–10 feet in a season, suitable for trellises, fences, and arbors.

Culture

Full sun; well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Perennial in zones 10–11; grown as an annual elsewhere. Self-seeds readily.

Taxonomy

• Family: Papilionaceae (Fabaceae)
• Genus: Clitoria
• Species: ternatea