Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea)

I found this plant at Lowe's a few years ago and it was the only one left. Naturally, I had to buy it. Not only because it was beautiful, but because I knew it would serve as a host plant for the Long-Tailed Skipper butterfly. And sure enough, they come and lay their eggs year after year and roll the leaves to make shelters. The caterpillars are known as "bean leaf rollers" because of their leaf rolling habit and because they tend to eat most things in the bean family (like green beans) so this is a good alternative to put the caterpillars on if you don't want them in your vegetable garden. They never seem to do much damage to the plant as I think the lizards have discovered their method of "hiding". The plant loses its leaves in the winter but comes back each spring. This year I started saving seeds just in case we have a very hard freeze and I also cover the plant with blankets. Mostly, I protect it so it will come back sooner and be ready to feed my caterpillars. I have this one planted right in front of the house in full Florida sun with poor Florida soil. It keeps coming back so I guess it likes where it is.

[ Reply to this comment | (1) ]

This beautiful plant is now on my dream garden list!

[ 2 replies | ]

I received seeds for this plant in a trade a few years ago and it has become one of my favorite plants! It produces beautiful dark blue flowers from spring through fall and although I've not seen any butterflies attracted to it, the flowers sure do attract attention from people! Someone is always asking "What is that plant with the lovely blue flowers?" Our local Home Depot had this plant for sale in their garden center in early summer this year, the first time I've seen it for sale here locally. There is a white flowering variety also but the blue just grabs my attention!

I grow this one as a container plant with a trellis for support and use a chunky, well draining potting medium. The plant seems to thrive in full sun most of the day and remains outside year round where it will die down when we have freezing temperatures but always seems to return in spring.

[ Reply to this comment | ]