Butterfly pea (Clitoria mariana)
Care, watering, light and tips for Butterfly pea on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Butterfly pea
Clitoria mariana, also known as 'butterfly-pea', is a perennial herbaceous vine from the Fabaceae family, valued for its vibrant blue, purple, or white flowers with a distinctive yellow center. Its unique shell-shaped flowers are a visual delight in tropical and subtropical gardens, perfect for covering pergolas, fences, or as a hanging plant. Beyond its ornamental beauty, it is recognized for its uses in traditional medicine and as a natural dye in food and beverages.
Native range
Tropical Asia (primarily India and Southeast Asia)
Care tips
It thrives in full sun for abundant flowering, though it can tolerate partial shade. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during its growth and flowering period; reduce watering in winter. It prefers well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, and with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A common mistake is not providing adequate support, as it is a vine that needs something to cling to for proper development.
How to save a dying Butterfly pea
- Warning signs
- Yellowing or drooping leaves, soft stems, no flowering.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture. Ensure indirect sunlight and good ventilation. Prune damaged stems.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (root rot) or lack of light. Does not tolerate waterlogging or dense shade.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not completely rotted and conditions are corrected in time.