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GENERAL
Origin
:
tropical
Vigour
:
fairly fast
growing
Humidity
:
semi-arid, semi-
humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
medium
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (1800
ppm)
Hardiness
:
0°C
SHAPE
Type
:
climbers
Height
:
1 m-3 m
Spread
:
2 m-3 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
dark blue
Size
:
2 cm - 3 cm
Period
:
June - September
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
pod
Fruit size
:
7 cm
Butterfly Peas are herbaceous vines from tropical Asia. They grow dull-green, compound leaves,
and dangling blue flowers with yellow centres are borne mainly from June to September. It twi-
nes rapidly to about 3 metres in height given sufficient nutrients. Ideal locations are in full to
partial sun where sandy, well-drained soils are frequently irrigated. Pollination is carried out by
bees, so the vine develops downy legumes with seeds that germinate readily. Members of the pea
family Fabaceae or Leguminosae host bacteria Rhizobia within so-called nodules. These are able
to fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available to the plant’s roots. Both organisms profit from
this symbiotic relationship. Young plants require some initial help to start up a trellis or a fence.
Butterfly Pea soon recovers from damage caused by frost and drought, and also tolerates grazing.
It also does well as annual in containers, window boxes or hanging baskets. ‘Pleno’ is a cultivar
with double, blue flowers. The species’ inflorescences are about 3 cm in size. Varieties such as ‘Blue
Sails’ grow flowers of about 5 cm diameter. The same size but in white appears the flowering of
‘Alba’. Five petals make an interesting flower with an upright banner and two wings that enclose
the boat-shaped keel at the base. Apart from its use as an ornamental climber, the Butterfly Pea is
a palatable forage legume and is also used medicinally for its bioactive compounds. Maintenance
is relatively low for a vine, and in Arriyadh the plant grows successfully.
111
Clitoria ternatea,
Fabaceae
Butterfly Pea